Renovations of the Caulfield course proper are well ahead of schedule with the reopening of the track on target for C F Orr Stakes Day on February 14.
The Peter Moody trained Moment Of Change won the 2014 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Caulfield track manager Jason Kerr has organised horses to gallop on the surface next week and is fully expecting the new turf to get the green light.
Racing at Caulfield has been suspended when work commenced on October 19 last year, the day after the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m), with the course proper getting a complete overall.
But no meetings were lost with Sandown and Mornington running extra meetings to fill the void.
“There is absolutely no issues, we’ll be back racing on it on Orr Stakes day,” Kerr told Racing Network.
“The establishment of the track is probably better than we could have anticipated. It has progressed really well.”
After the initial test next week, Kerr said that the number of gallops on the course proper would gradually increase before a series of barrier trials would be conducted to give it a final workout.
Trials have been set down for February 3 with approximately thirty-five horses to compete from the 900m mark to the winning post.
The $400,000 weight for age C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) is the first Group 1 of the 2015 calendar year and headlines an outstanding day of racing at Caulfield featuring eight Group races in total.
It will be a big day out for the two year olds who will be vying to gain recognition for the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield a fortnight later.
The Colts and Geldings will be competing in the Group 3 $150,000 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) while the fillies will go around in the Group 2 $200,000 Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m).
The Group 2 $200,000 Autumn Stakes (1400m) will see the three year olds do battle while the three year old fillies will front up in the Group 3 $150,000 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m).
The older mares have the Group 3 $150,000 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) to contend with, the open class sprinters will dash over the 1100m in the Group 2 $200,000 Rubiton Stakes while the open gallopers can do battle in the Group 3 $150,000 T S Carlyon Cup over 1600m.
