Sydney’s premier spring race meeting is scheduled to go ahead at Randwick on October 1 with parts of the damaged QEII grandstand to be removed.
Australian Turf Club chief executive Darren Pearce said engineers would begin work immediately to ensure public safety for the Epsom Handicap meeting.
However, next week’s George Main Stakes will be transferred to Rosehill with the Group One race to be shortened by 100 metres to 1500 metres.
Routine testing ahead of the redevelopment of the grandstand set to begin in November uncovered corrosion in structural steel cabling in the roof of the QEII Stand.
Pearce said the club had a contingency plan to race the Epsom at Rosehill if the engineering work could not be completed in time.
“The cut-off is the Monday before the Epsom,” he said.
“Bad weather is our enemy and if the work cannot be completed we will decide by the 26th of September whether to transfer the meeting to Rosehill.
“If that is the case the Epsom and the Flight Stakes would be run over 1500 metres instead of 1600.”
Rosehill is unable to accommodate a 1600-metre start and Stephen Farley, trainer of Epsom favourite Sincero, has already indicated the horse will not run over the shortened distance.
Farley said he would take Sincero to Melbourne to continue his preparation for the Cox Plate.
Pearce said several of the cables would be demolished and parts of the grandstand closed for the major race day.
“We will be moving heaven and earth to make sure we can get the program completed to race on the first of October,” Pearce said.
“Everything that can possibly be done to have a safe outcome will be done.
“The builders will work over the next 20 days to deliver the site.
“To remove risk we are demolishing the front three or four sections.
“The middle sections are sound.”
The last race meeting scheduled for Randwick ahead of a $150 million development of facilities is scheduled to take place on November 5.
AAP TURF
