Warwick Farm has missed the worst of Sydney’s torrential rain and officials are confident Saturday’s eight-race card will go ahead.
Australian Turf Club racecourses manager Lindsay Murphy inspected the track on Thursday and said while it was heavy it hadn’t received the same soaking as Randwick closer to the coast.
“They had 28 mils at Warwick Farm up until 11am today whereas Randwick had 150 mils up to the same time,” Murphy said.
“It’s a heavy eight but it’s only just into that range.
“There are no worries with the meeting on Saturday, it will be OK. The track is far from bad.”
Sydney has already lost one meeting this week with Canterbury washed out on Wednesday and the program set down for Gosford on Thursday was also abandoned.
And Saturday’s provincial meeting at Newcastle is in jeopardy with more than 100mm of rain falling on the track since Tuesday night.
“We’re dicey,” Newcastle Jockey Club chief executive John Curtis said.
“It’s a heavy ten at present and we desperately need a break in the weather.”
Curtis said a further track inspection would take place on Friday to determine if the eight-race program could go ahead.
One person happy to see the rain in Sydney is trainer Gary Portelli.
He will start a handful of wet-trackers on Saturday, including Yoburg in the At Sea Hcp (1200m).
His three runs from a spell have been indifferent but he does boast a 4-1/4-length victory over subsequent Group One winner Atomic Force on heavy ground last July.
“His best wins have been when the track is bottomless and he may get that this weekend,” Portelli said.
“This will be his test to see exactly where we’re at with him.”
Exciting sprinter Rain Affair is odds-on favourite for the race having won five of his six starts, the latest a 3-1/4-length romp on slow ground at Rosehill.
He is a natural frontrunner but Portelli says the Joe Pride-trained gelding won’t be getting any favours in the lead on Saturday and Yoburg will be ridden for speed.
“That’s the only way to ride our bloke,” Portelli said.
“Look, Rain Affair may lead me, he might have too much speed for my bloke but we will be going forward.
“We’re not in the same league as him but on a heavy track with a light weight … I’d be happy to run second to him anyway.”
Three of his other runners – A Shade Better in the opening event, O’Crikey in the last race and Pink Power in the Rosebud Fillies Preview (1100m) – are also winners in heavy ground.
Miss Spoken will clash with stablemate Pink Power and while she is unknown in the wet Portelli believes she has a bright future.
AAP TURF
