Track surface renovationgets seal of approval

A THUMBS-up from Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Harry Coffey for the Bendigo Jockey Club’s (BJC) track renovation was music to the ears of the club’s hierarchy.

The three-time Group 1-winning hoop was one of the first to test out the new surface aboard the former UK stayer Onesmoothoperator, now being trained locally by Tim Fitzsimmons, at last week’s first lot of gallops on the revamped course proper.

Coffey gave the track, which underwent a $1 million renovation following last year’s Bendigo Cup meeting, a glowing endorsement.

With no hiccups to report, the BJC is on track and on time to resume racing on 27 March.

“The track has bounced back exceptionally well,” a delighted BJC chief executive officer Paul Scullie said.

“It was quite staggering the actual works (took) only two-and-a-half weeks to be completed; it was a really short program.

“But it’s purely and simply the growth process that you must get right.

“You don’t want to return to racing too quickly, you need to ensure that it embeds itself with a strong root base, which is done.

“The industry is very proud, so it’s all systems go.

“It’s really exciting to be closing in on a return to racing and to see how the new surface goes.”

The $1 million major renovation to the course proper included a full resurfacing with 60,000 square meters of new Kikuyu turf, aimed at improving drainage and durability.

With Kikuyu being a warm-season grass that enters dormancy in winter and turning brown, Scullie said the surface will be oversown with rye grass to keep its colour.

“The Kikuyu will give the track a really strong root base, but it’s really soft and is good on the horses,” he said.

“Onesmoothoperator had a nice gallop on it (last week) and you can really notice a new, soft sound when the horses gallop.

“The track renovation is really similar to what will eventually happen at Moonee Valley.

 

“Harry Coffey came down (from Swan Hill) to give Onesmoothoperator a steer and reports from him were that it was pristine and the surface had come up well.

“That’s something we’ll continue to do, get the opinions of jockeys and trainers, and most importantly we want to make sure it’s good for the horses.”

Scullie said the club and its track staff would get a strong gauge of progress at the resumption of trials in a couple of weeks’ time ahead of the first meeting back.

A rare Friday meeting will mark the return of racing to Bendigo, with the BJC teaming up with the Otis Foundation for a big day of racing and awareness raising.

The Bendigo-based foundation is a national not-for-profit providing breaks away at no cost to those with breast cancer, helping reduce the psychological impact of the disease.

The event will coincide with Marong Cup day.

“We haven’t had too many Friday meetings over the journey, so it’s shaping to be a great day, especially with the Marong Cup being run that day as well,” Scullie said.

“It’s normally run mid-February, but obviously being out of action, we’ve moved it back.

“We are partnering with Otis the first time, which is exciting.

“They will have a big function upstairs at Silks and it’s looking like there will be a lot of people here.

“Due to the break, I think there’s a real appetite from people for some racing.”

Following Marong Cup day, the BJC will head towards one of its meetings of the year, Bendigo Golden Mile day on Saturday 12 April.

The standalone Saturday race meeting is headlined by the $200,000 Listed Golden Mile (1600m).