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 Author: Todman
Timestamp:- 17/4/2004 4:55:06 PM
Subject: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
The track is a disgrace - thank goodness there was no rain over the carnival else it would have been a disaster.
The best horses though seem to have shone through.
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 Author: Dr Bob
Timestamp:- 5/9/2005 12:43:00 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
There was no rain, and headwinds were not a factor.
The groundsmen rolled the track once or twice.
I forget which races they did it between, but they did roll it out to 8m.
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Author: Todman
Timestamp:- 5/9/2005 11:02:54 AM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
The Randwick track has certainly improved since the easter 2004 debacle where horses came down the outside rail and still managed to run decent times.
Private Steer won the Doncaster in 1-35.6 and the all aged in 1-21.6. Many questioned the times as the appeared too fast given the state of the track & the extra distances covered by most horses.
Randwick, in Sept 2005, still seems to throw out puzzling times. I suspect that a certain amount of moisture in the track binds the sandy soil and produces faster times.
The Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday was a handy field at worst - at best, the winner has some pretensions at being a mile horse.
Why then, when the overall time for the mile was 1-35.73, did the final 600m in 35.44 not see the leader swamped.
I backed Nevis & it was 1 of my bets of the day but surely at least 1 of the horses in the race was capable of reeling off a sub 34 final 600m. A 34.5 would have seen most horses haul in Nevis. The first 1000m in 1-00.29 was welter pace.
Many of the sectionals throughout the day were good. High Cee, all 4 starters in Denmarkets race, Primus but Mnemosyne & co, Shania Dane & co plus the Chelmsford (the individual sectionals for this race won't download at the moment).
If the answer is simply the quality of the horse then the form fron races 5, 7 and 9 is suspect. I think there may have been a few spots of rain later in the day. If there was, was it a factor. Was there shifting headwinds.
Why was or is it so?
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 Author: Rogan Josh
Timestamp:- 10/8/2004 3:35:06 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
As much as he might condemn the Randwick track, John O'Shea certainly has the key to performing well on the shifty surface with a stack of big race wins since the Spring last year.
Or perhaps I am misreading things and he really can't train and his horses naturally run out about six wide and the Randwick course is just making him look good.
Seriously I agree with everyone and the course should be closed until Derby day. But I can?t see the AJC moving Epsom day from the course proper. The Warwick Stks day is easy enough to move back to the Farm. They may even decide to run the chelmsford and george main stks, Tatts Cup, Melb cup, Villars days, etc on the Kensington track (god help us) but I can?t see them even thinking about moving Epsom day. But that might be good for John O?Shea
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 Author: Racing Gal
Timestamp:- 10/8/2004 2:20:10 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
Common sense has prevailed and the Warwick Stakes meeting will be transferred to Warwick Farm (where until a couple of years ago it was always held - hence the name Warwick Stakes).
The Chelmsford Stakes meeting may also be moved but as it is a Tattersalls meeting and not an AJC meeting maybe the Tattersall's members will not want to venture to the Farm as there are usually functions held inconjuction with this day.
Hopefully with Sydney Racing returning to Sky the turnover won't be down too much as for some reason punters don't seem to like betting at the Farm as at Randwick. However the surface at Warwick Farm is racing very well so it is a decision for common sense to make the move.
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 Author: Pinkline Jones
Timestamp:- 10/8/2004 11:40:30 AM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
I think the Randwick track might be of great benefit to Northerly should the fighting lobster venture to Sydney again. If Payne can manoeuvre the horse to force his rivals to fall into some big pot holes then he might have half a chance of picking up a mid week event. But then again yellow pigs with black maltese crosses might fly!
PINKLINE
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 Author: chelmsford
Timestamp:- 10/8/2004 10:34:14 AM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
Randwick track is pathetic. Races should be transferred to Newcastle, nice big fair track. Problem is champagne set won't travel, too much corporate dollars at stake.
Canterbury is a dog track and is not fit to hold group races.
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Author: Egghead
Timestamp:- 9/8/2004 8:11:18 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
It is amazing that the old randwick course proper was torn up after the easter carnival of 2001 ( Where It played quite well), and re-open thwelve months later, and at the time was hailed by many as better than Sha Tin. Now a days, it is a joke,, just 3 years on.
Does it come down to the fact that Randwick has been over raced for two long? Is it because the AJC got worried over the All weather Kensington track, spent too much time and money trying to fix/maintain it, and forgot about the Royal surface?
Why did the move the Hobartville meeting and the Warwick Stakes meeting from the consistent Warwick Farm? When they did this, they have not allowed for Randwick to get significant rest. It goes to show that short sightness of the AJC will cost them in the long run. By trying to increase the tab turnover by transferring such meetings away, onto Randwick, they have forgotten to take into account that these meetings at the Farm allowed for Randwick to rest and regrow for the big races.
I plead to the AJC to bite the bullet, get Randwick back to its former glory, and transfer these two former Warwick farm meetings back next season. They also should race at least once a month on a saturday at the Farm until they have Randwick back to its best.
Racing at Randwick- there is none better when the track is right, but right now- how can punters, trainers jockeys and owners bove all be confident about racing at Australia's greatest racecourse??
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 Author: OliverFan
Timestamp:- 9/8/2004 5:16:32 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
I agree racey gal.
Randwick should be torn up and completely resurfaced.
Take the top foot of soil.
Race this carnival at Warwick Farm and Canterbury.
That would be best for the long term.
Randwick would be back to it's best by AJC derby time next year.
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 Author: racey gal
Timestamp:- 9/8/2004 4:34:17 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
You know makes me laugh??
Qld is always treated as the poor cousin of VIC and NSW, however at least our two metro tracks are of good quality and race fairly. (Just excuse the 1920's facilities) :-)
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 Author: Pedro
Timestamp:- 9/8/2004 1:10:29 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
What was the best and second most demanding track in Australia after Sandown needs to have the type of grass changed. One thing though if it does rain it will probably be firmer as sand can harden with moisture.
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 Author: Bell Flight
Timestamp:- 8/8/2004 6:22:29 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
With the VRC not that far away from ripping the track at Flemington up, I am sure they will be looking to the AJC to see how NOT to do it!
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 Author: mcgarret
Timestamp:- 8/8/2004 3:42:31 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
Todman
Well said. I thought it would have raced much better than it did in April, but it hasn't improved one iota.
Very ironic that immediately the AJC got their races back on Sky that they "showcased" a sub-standard surface.
It seemed very "patchy", with some areas looking like they weren't getting marked, but other areas looking like the sandpit in the local kiddies playground.
The grass cover is good, but the problem is obviously in the root system or the soil composition.
I struggle with the memory that on Doncaster/Derby Day 2003 the fence was like being in a Concorde, compared to a Tiger Moth out wide.
Now the fence is simply a "no fly zone".
I also remember the track racing very well in November last year - then it went "pear-shaped" in December (in the growing season).
Too good for me.
It doesn't look good for the Spring meetings.
Cheers...McGarret
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 Author: dungbeetle
Timestamp:- 8/8/2004 3:20:51 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
Disgrace is an understatement given the millions of dollars spent on the track in the past ten years to make it world class. This would never happen in Hong Kong. The fact it does is a sad indictment on Hype City.
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Author: Todman
Timestamp:- 8/8/2004 1:13:35 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
Can you believe this...
"But Australian Jockey Club (AJC) officials are confident they are doing everything possible to restore Randwick to its former glory.
"People have forgotten how bad it was," AJC track manager Jeff Haynes said.
"There are five or six bad patches but we need it to get warmer to get the growth."
Nearly 4 months on and nothing has changed - something ain't right.
Assuming that the current maintenance staff are at least competant, then the original work carried out to upgrade this track last year has to be highly suspect. Whether or not the blame lies with the materials (soils & bases etc) used or the application of those materials, it appears to me that Randwick will remain an inferior racing surface and a total makeover may be the only solution.
Perhaps Royal Randwick needs a Royal Commission to uncover the TRUTH so that we don't have to swallow the tripe that is dished out to the media.
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 Author: moonchase
Timestamp:- 20/4/2004 2:01:03 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
the bad news is the track will not be given a rest.
they are racing on the course proper not only this saturday but also on monday.
when will they realise that this problem will not magically go away and the track needs a break to have any hope of improving.
why put in an $8 mill track if your going to ruin it?
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 Author: Speedy Gonzalez
Timestamp:- 19/4/2004 1:46:49 AM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
yes that's right todman. divide by 2 and u will be closer to the mark. if the pace has been soft it's better to be travelling 4 wide with momentum that being held up for 200m but if the pace has been fast being held up can help save energy for a final sprint.
the track was faster than normal and on an adjusted basis dance hero's time is > 95 secs which makes more sense for a 2yo.
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Author: mcgarret
Timestamp:- 18/4/2004 10:19:54 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
Todman
I had my usual "War and Peace" ready to go but lost it somehow before sending - I'm spewing.
So...point form it is (Yay they say!).
AGREE - the track is less than perfect. The AJC has not denied it and are "working on it".
AGREE - if it had rained it would have been an absolute disaster. They got lucky. Maybe they "made their own luck" this year (up until the QE!).
JURY OUT - the times were also unbelivable on Slipper Day (STC last day - coincidentally)after the track was an equally poor debacle on the previous two Saturdays. The STC had ABSOLUTELY NO rain over their carnival - yet the jocks got off the fence early on day One and Two at Rosehill. Again - check the videos.
DISAGREE - horses improving dramatically - The Ryder was the highest rating race all racing season. Private Steer and Grand Armee could not improve on that. Didn't have to.
VERDICT - The track was ordinary - but importantly NOT BIASED. It was badly biased on Derby Day last year.
At least this year all horse had their chance on all days. On every day winners led all the way or came from last (or close to it).
I personally prefer betting on badly biased tracks. All punters should if they have got any idea.
Would you bet "black" on a roulette wheel if all the reds were "out of play".
Nonetheless - thats not the point.
Punters need confidence in the product.
Jockeys scouting wide doesn't look good.
But my ride of the Carnival goes to C. Brown on On A High on Monday.
He "bucked the trend" and scooted the horse through on the rail from the 800 to the 300 and saved lengths.
Then he nursed the horse home to win.
I didn't tip it or back it.
I just think he is a jockey who watches, thinks and learns.
Like G. Boss.
Cheers...Mcgarret
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Author: Pinkline Jones
Timestamp:- 18/4/2004 2:55:40 PM
Subject: Re: randwick - beach WITH GRASS
Message:
Totally agree Todman,
That track should not have been operating - the whole Easter carnival should have been split between Warwick Farm and Rosehill. Disgraceful disgraceful disgraceful.
PINKLINE
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