We race at Eagle Farm this Saturday.
Yeah, doesn’t look right does it – but it’s true. Doomben is rested as Eagle Farm comes out of cobwebs gathered from 18 months out of action.
Queenslanders are rejoicing, and so they should be but what are we to expect of the track, this much-maligned portion of Aussie tundra?
Well, former Flemington track man Mick Goodie, head-hunted as it was, to restore the punting faith in the Farm, reckons he’s done that.
On radio the other day, he confidently said it would be a Super Track. “Once this track gets up and running it will race as a Good 4 at it worse, nearly every race day.
“It will be like Flemington. It will drain well. It will always be in good nick.”
Like Flemington, hey? Hmmmm, wasn’t that long ago that everyone bagged that track for being leader biased.
So can we expect speed to hold up this Saturday for its glorious return?
Goodie reckons we’ll know more by February. “When you do any renovations, you need to go really hard at them. Strip them right back to baldness.
“After two or three brutal renovations, your track will start to toughen right up. So…probably by February.”
When it last raced, any horse and rider back further than 3rd, got belted with clod after clod of loose turf.
The trials and gallops on the track over the month seem to have straightened that problem out.
PubTABs and TABS are the best places to grab ‘expert’ tips on pretty much anything in life. Want a car, ask someone in a pub, or a fridge, that bloke in the corner’s got a mate whose selling one, or a tip in the next at Ascot, all there for you – even house markets.
Like taxi drivers, pub dwellers know everything.
So will Eagle Farm, this new Super track, play fairly?
“Yeah, if you’re a fu….leader,” claimed…Tom. (Remember these are only PubTABs and TAB dwellers interviewed here so many aren’t supposed to even be there. Anonymity is king so just first names. Probably not even real at that – to protect the innocent.)
“If this bloke worked on Flemington, then, of course, it will be leader biased,” added…Mark. “I’m doing my form based on horses that lead around the bend at Doomben.”
That’s probably fair.
“Bloody hell mate. A new track surface. Will it rain between now and then?” asked one guy.
Looking ahead the weather forecast is for a shower possibly on Friday but otherwise warm every day. It should be at it’s very worst a Slow track, but Goodie said above he thinks it will always race a Good 4.
“Then I don’t know. Maybe I’ll watch the first couple and see if a bias appears.”
But one other bloke, a Queenslander named…. Malcolm, was a little more hopeful.
“I saw a couple of trials from Eagle Farm last week and horses at the back accelerated with ease. That to me says they can come from behind. I’m gunna bet like it plays fair.
“Whatever happens to start with, it will get better and I’m glad its back. Every state capital should have a track with a 400m or more home straight. Doomben needs revamping.”
With over 200 noms for day 1 of the Super Track’s comeback, it’s clear most trainers agree with him.
The following time Eagle Farm races will be on January 19 giving it ample time to recover.
But at the moment all signs suggest weather fine, track good, and all horses getting every chance.
Big fields are assured and that adds up to value for punters.
Hang on, did he say Doomben needs revamping too…Oh, what! Another track out of action…..no thanks buddy!
