Ellerslie is given green light for racing’s return

[Wandering Eyes]

Ellerslie is set to host some of the biggest race meetings on the calendar this season, but for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) chief executive Paul Wilcox, one raceday stands above the rest.

The newly installed StrathAyr track is set to host its first meeting of the season on Saturday-week, with many industry participants eager to see how it will cope with the stresses of racing after undergoing remedial work over winter.

The new surface hosted its first race meeting in January to much fanfare, however, a fortnight later at the Karaka Millions meeting it came under scrutiny after a couple of horses lost their footing.

The track subsequently held a handful of meetings, including Auckland Cup and New Zealand Derby Day, before two meetings in April were partially abandoned due to horses slipping.

The track was set to undergo some planned remedial work over winter, however, the club’s last scheduled meeting of the season on May 25 was transferred to Pukekohe Park to allow for the work to commence immediately.

Following the remedial work, the track has hosted a number of successful jump-outs and trials, including 22 heats on Tuesday, giving the club plenty of confidence heading into their opening meeting of the season.

“There was a surface tension that was created when we were feeding the grass to get it to grow that created a root matting at the top layer,” Wilcox said. “We have done the renovations where we have removed that and yesterday we had no issues. We are relieved.”

Wilcox said the club has been canvassing trainers for their feedback from the trials, and they have received positive reports.

“So far, so good,” Wilcox said. “Craig Baker (ATR Executive General Manager of Racing) has been talking with some of the trainers this (Wednesday) morning to see how their horses have pulled up and everything seems good there. We are happy.”

Over winter, ATR flew in a number of track specialists from Australia to assist with the track renovation, which Wilcox said was hugely beneficial.

“We got Chris Hay, who looks after the StrathAyr tracks in Tasmania, and Liam O’Keeffe from Flemington, whose track is a sand profile track and presents the same way as ours does,” he said.

“Utilising the skillset of two guys who are at the top of their game is something we are never afraid of. We got them in to help to give us the advice and changes that were needed to make sure we had the surface to present to enable racedays.

“Every track has its own intricacies. It doesn’t matter if it is turf, sand or synthetic, you utilise people with the skillsets that have the knowledge of preparation. We used them and they gave us some good advice, and we had a successful day (of trials) yesterday.

“We did everything in the book to get it (track) to where it needs to be.”

The StrathAyr track has cost the club north of $50 million, which comes with pressure, and Wilcox said the club has felt both support and scrutiny following the track’s performance to date.

“The money is irrelevant, it is making sure we have got a surface that can perform on raceday,” he said. “We had a slip, and that wasn’t good enough, so it was making sure that we can get the surface that gives the confidence to the jockeys and horses that are going around.

“There has been an element of negativity, but that is to be expected in the industry that we are in. All-in-all the trainers that have been supportive of us are wanting it to go well because they are wanting to have the ability to race at Ellerslie. We have been getting some really good support.”

There is plenty to look forward to at Ellerslie this season, including the blockbuster Champions Day in March, which will host the inaugural $3.5 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m). However, Wilcox said his team’s primary focus at this stage is their first meeting of the season next Saturday.

“We have got the new Champions Day in March, and we are looking forward to that, but I will be a happier man when we get that 21^st (of September) meeting out of the way, which is what we are focussing on,” he said.

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