Sydney has received a drenching this week and the Randwick track has not been immune with almost 200 millimetres of rain recorded ahead of the first Group 1 meeting of the autumn.
The surface was rated a heavy 8 midweek and downgraded to a 9 on Thursday, but Australian Turf Club officials were content with how well the course proper had handled the water to that point.
They will continue to monitor conditions over the next 36 hours and ATC general manager racecourses, Nevesh Ramdhani, says any decision on the fate of the meeting is unlikely to be made before race day.
The track has received 197 mils in the past seven days and making circumstances more difficult for racing officials is the ever-changing weather predictions for the weekend.
But Ramdhani remains hopeful the worst of the rain has passed.
“The way the track is positioned right now, it can handle more,” Ramdhani said.
“There is rain forecast every day for the next week. The question is how much rain we are going to get on the day.
“The forecast is for some rain but it’s not suggesting it’s going to deluge like we have seen in the last few days.”
Trainers likewise appear content to see what transpires on race morning with only two early scratchings from the 10-race card, both of them dual acceptors.
Saturday’s program ushers in the first majors of the Sydney autumn with a field of 13 poised to contest the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and 16 fillies to line up in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m).
Chris Waller has the two favourites for the features with Verry Elleegant heading Chipping Norton Stakes markets at $3 and Espiona top pick for the Surround at $2.10.
