Jockeys’ safety concerns have forced the final three races of Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting to be abandoned.
Eagle Farm was downgraded from a slow (6) to a heavy (8) after race one but persistent rain and poor visibility made conditions too dangerous for the meeting to proceed.
Jockeys Eddie Wilkinson and Jim Byrne first approached stewards after the second race expressing concerns with visibility and conditions deteriorated following the fifth race, the Radford Business Services Plate (2200m).
A second delegation led by senior riders Larry Cassidy, Paul Hammersley, Scott Galloway and Damian Brown approached stewards after the fifth race expressing concerns with visibility and the track condition.
Chief steward Wade Birch later called off the meeting following a track inspection with jockeys.
“We walked the track from the 800 metres to the 100 metres and stewards were satisfied with the track condition,” Birch said.
“Visibility was the major issue and considering the concerns raised by jockeys we have abandoned the rest of the meeting.”
Meanwhile, the Rob Heathcote-trained Racing Heart will dodge the Listed Toowoomba Cup (2150m) on March 31 in favour of the spelling paddock following his easy win in the Radford Business Services Plate.
Racing Heart, ridden by Cassidy, careered away for a five-length win over Hollywood And Vine.
“I can’t fault his form,” Heathcote said.
“It was a clever ride from Larry Cassidy when he gave up the lead in the early stages.
“These set weight races are fantastic but you won’t see the best from him until next year.
“I’ll give him one more run, but he won’t start in the Toowoomba Cup, before he goes for a spell.”
AAP TURF
