Saturday morning track inspection for Randwick Guineas Day

Racing New South Wales stewards will make a final decision if the Randwick Guineas Race Day will go ahead when they inspect the track on Saturday morning.

Comin' Through, above in yellow colours, is the favourite for the Randwick Guineas at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Comin’ Through, above in yellow colours, is the favourite for the Randwick Guineas at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Randwick track was rated a heavy 9 on Friday afternoon after receiving over 106m of rain over the last seven days with 41.8mm falling since 6am today.

The Bureau Of Meteorology is also forecasting more rain overnight and tomorrow so any thought of an upgrade is off the cards.

Stewards will walk the track and watch two horses gallop on the course proper in the morning and take reports from their jockeys before making a final decision if the nine event program goes ahead.

The following statement was released by Racing New South Wales on Friday afternoon.

“As at 3pm, the Randwick track had received 41.8mm rain since 6.30am, bringing the seven day rain total to 148mm. The track has coped extremely well in the conditions presented and is rated a Heavy 9.

“The radar indicates additional showers this afternoon but these are expected to ease after 5am tomorrow morning on the best forecasts available to us.

“At 5.30am tomorrow, a full track inspection involving Racing NSW Stewards and ATC Track Managers will take place where two horses will gallop on the course proper surface.

“By 6am tomorrow, and taking into account the weather and forecast at this time, track condition and feedback from the riders of the two horses, a decision will be made relating to the running of the meeting.

“This will allow trainers time to gallop horses engaged if the meeting needs to be postponed. If a postponement is necessary, we are working towards Monday as the target day for the race meeting.”

The Chris Waller trained Comin’ Through is the current $4.40 favourite for the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) and a rain affected track shouldn’t worry the Fastnet Rock colt.

Comin’ Through’s wet weather form of one win and a third on soft tracks has convinced Waller that the Fastnet Rock colt will handle the very wet conditions.

“He has had two runs on soft tracks, a win and a personal best last start in terms of form and his rating,” Waller said.

“So that gives me a little bit of confidence to suggest that he should handle the heavy track and he is ready to go to a new level on Saturday.”

Comin’ Through’s chances of handling the wet track conditions are boosted by the fact that he is a half-brother to the multiple Group 1 winner Criterion who won the 2014 Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on a heavy track and the 2015 Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on a soft 7.

Hong Kong’s leading jockey Joao Moreira will be in Sydney to ride Comin’ Through who will jump from barrier three in the field that has been reduced to thirteen runners following the scratching of Land Of Plenty who will line up in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Waller has described Comin’ Through as a good miler and he will be stepping back up to 1600m in the Randwick Guineas for the first time since winning the Group 3 $200,000 The Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

“Good draw. The horse is ready to run a mile. He looks like a miler, he races like a miler,” Waller said.

Comin’ Through will be fitter for his two runs back in the Autumn after a first up fifth to Man From Uncle in the Group 3 $150,000 Australian Chinese Jockey Club Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 4 followed by a third to the same three year old in the Group 2 $400,000 Schweppes Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 18.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.