TAMWORTH Jockey Club will stage a seven-race TAB meeting today, albeit on a heavy track and it passes an early morning inspection.
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HNWRA stewards completed a track inspection about 1pm yesterday and have another inspection at 6.30am today with leading jockey Darren Jones.
HNWRA chief steward Shane Cullen and steward Jack Penfold inspected the track yesterday.
“The track is a Heavy 10 with no chance of an upgrade,” Cullen said.
“We’ll have another look at it in the morning.”
They are concerned, mostly, by a section of the track from just past the winning post to the 1600m. It’s a concern that will be discussed this morning for what is not a normal meeting for the TJC.
They were to race last week but the city was in flood and the ground waterlogged from the recent deluges.
The extra meeting created by Racing NSW after an abundance of washed out meetings over the past month, will be well received by both the club and the many trainers, owners and jockeys who have had to make do with lean pickings in what has been touted as the wettest Spring on record.
Trying to produce fit horses has been a headache for many trainers.
Tamworth trainer Sue Grills has accepted with seven of her stable but was unsure if all would run tomorrow and was playing a waiting game.
“I’ve accepted with them but it depends on the track,” Grills said.
“If we get any rain on Sunday I don’t think they will run.”
The track did have around 4mm early Sunday but was clear the rest of the day.
Yesterday was a good drying day for the track and while it will still be a Heavy 10, trainers like Grills are also hedging their bets by nominating for this Friday’s Grafton meeting as well.
Market Guru is a prime example for Grills.
The six-year-old gelding son of Markane won at Grafton last time out on a good track but will race at Tamworth today on the Heavy 10.
Tamworth-trained Poet’s Trick (Stephen Dixon) has also won five of his 36 starts but has won twice on heavy tracks. Feature, prepared by Wayne Seelin has had just the one start at Tamworth for one win, the mare has also won on the heavy as well.