Work Begins On Kensington Track Fix
- Monday, 28 July 2014 08:31
Work has begun to ensure the controversial Kensington track at Randwick is in better order for its next meeting than its last.
The smaller StrathAyr track on the inside of the course proper deteriorated race by race on Saturday after 8mm of rain before the meeting.
Australian Turf Club manager of tracks, Lindsay Murphy, said the track was not performing up to expectations and the dry winter had not helped.
"We have started working on it today," Murphy said on Monday.
"The bit of rain we had didn't help and in fact it would have been better if the rain had been heavier.
"Then it would have gone in deeper and soaked in.
"As it was it was near the surface and the thatch was coming out.
"It was disappointing and it hasn't performed as well as we would thought it would but it should be a lot better for the next meeting on August 13.
"We have to adjust the way we maintain it and will keep working on it."
Murphy said while StrathAyr was designed to be suitable for all weather, similar tracks around the country were also underperforming.
"Moonee Valley has StrathAyr and isn't as good in the winter as the other seasons," he said.
"It looks not dissimilar to the Kensington track. Toowoomba and Moe are also not the best."
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller decided not to run some of his horses at the meeting because he believed they were unsuited by the Kensington surface irrespective of any predicted rain.
Fellow trainer Joe Pride took the risk and after three beaten favourites, declared he would not take his horses to race there again.
The StrathAyr surface was laid as part of the major renovation at Randwick and has been in use for less than a year.
