Randwick track manager Nevesh Ramdhani is confident that the Randwick track will be rated in the soft range for the running of the Group 2 $200,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Le Romain, above, is the early favourite for the Missile Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
On Thursday afternoon the Randwick track was rated a soft 6 and even with more rain expected to fall before the weekend, Ramdhani is still hoping for some improvement come start time for the nine event card.
“The track is currently rated a soft 6,” Ramdhani said.
“We have had 7.2mm of rain overnight and that brought out total up to 13mm for the week.”
“We were a soft 5 yesterday and a soft 6 today and there is a bit more rain forecast later this afternoon and depending on how much will determine how soft the track gets to.”
“I think we will race on a soft track come Saturday and hopefully on the better side of the soft if the weather improves.”
Ramdhani has set the rail back up in the true position for the first time since the McKell Cup meeting on May 27 and he is very happy with the general overall condition of the grass.
“The rail in is in the true position. We last raced there on McKell Cup Day on the 27th of May so we have a full track to race on this week,” Ramdhani said.
“The grass is really good up against the rail. There is a bit of wear and tear coming down the straight but the majority of the track is in really good condition for this time of the year.”
A soft surface won’t affect the performance of most runners in the Missile Stakes with the Peter and Paul Snowden trained That’s A Good Idea and Invincible Gem from the Kris Lees stable the only two runners that haven’t won on a rain affected track.
Invincible Gem’s stablemate Le Romain has been installed the $2.20 favourite for the Missile Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au and will have no trouble handling the sting of the ground with two wins on a heavy track on his record while $6.50 chance Jungle Edge is a noted wet tracker.
Trainer Brett Cavanough said that a soft surface wouldn’t harm the chances of The Monstar ($9.50) who will be racing with a one-eyed blinkers on for the first time.
“A soft track is ideal for him,” Cavanough said.
“He doesn’t need it to be really wet, he just doesn’t like it too hard.”
