Australian Turf Club officials admit the weather forecast is looking “tricky” ahead of the Missile Stakes meeting at Randwick.
The course proper was a heavy 9 on Thursday after receiving over 155 mils of rain this week, or the equivalent of the usual monthly total in seven days.
With further rain on the radar, particularly on Saturday, ATC assistant track manager Jake Carlaw says they will do all they can, but ultimately the fate of the meeting will hinge on the weather.
“The next couple of days, there’s about five mils forecast on Friday and about fifteen on Saturday, so it is quite a tricky forecast for the team,” Carlaw said.
“Considering we had barrier trials today (Thursday) we will give the track a quick fill, hopefully mow the track this afternoon and just let Mother Nature take its course with this rain in the next few days.”
Carlaw added the rail would revert to the true position for the first time since early June, ensuring “a nice pad of grass” for race day.
The near certainty of an extremely heavy track is set to rob the Missile Stakes (1200m) of one of its biggest drawcards, with trainer Joe Pride indicating he will scratch Group 1 winner Private Eye if conditions don’t improve.
The gelding needs to trial at Warwick Farm on Friday if he doesn’t run, and Pride will make a final call on Friday morning.
Gary Portelli has also indicated he won’t send Encap around on a testing track and has nominated the Doncaster Mile placegetter for a Rosehill trial next week.
One horse who will take his place in the feature is the Bjorn Baker-trained Robusto.
The winner of The Ingham during the summer, Robusto has the advantage of recent racing, having competed at the backend of the Brisbane winter carnival before returning to Sydney where he finished runner-up in the Winter Stakes (1400m) and captured the Winter Challenge (1500m) last month.
Baker said the step back in distance would be no issue, especially given the anticipated conditions.
“Not with the track the way it is. It might be a big advantage,” Baker said.
“He’s running and he is rock-hard fit.”
