Track downgraded to heavy 9 for Doomben Cup

The track rating for the running of the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday has been downgraded to a heavy 9 on Friday afternoon.

German import Articus, above, has good wet track form heading into the Doomben Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

German import Articus, above, has good wet track form heading into the Doomben Cup. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Course manager Jim Roberts walked the course mid-afternoon and had no choice but to downgrade the track from a soft 7 to a heavy 9 after Doomben received around 20mm of rain in the last twenty-four hours.

“We just completed a walk of the track with the stewards and we have downgraded it from a soft 7 to a heavy 9,” Roberts told Brisbane Racing Club’s Racing Manager Bart Sinclair.

“We have had just on 20mm of rain in the last twenty-four hours, four and a bit of that since 7am this morning.”

“It sort of has been drizzling all day. We haven’t had real heavy rain as such but it is still soaking in to the ground in the last five or sick hours.”

“The fill on the track is not too bad, just the previous damage to the track is a concern.”

“There is actually no surface water anywhere but the reason for the nine is because of that damage from previous racing on the track.”

The rail for the Doomben Cup meeting has been moved out 2.5m from the true position that is was in on Doomben 10,000 Day last Saturday.

The heavy 9 rating won’t worry the two Doomben Cup favourites Articus ($4) and It’s Somewhat ($4.40) who both have good wet track form.

The Darren Weir trained German import Articus has winning form in Europe on a heavy surface while It’s Somewhat led all of the way on a heavy 8 rated track to win the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 1.

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.