Horses Return to Awapuni Course Proper

[Chief Stipe]

 

Horses Return to RACE Awapuni Course Proper

This week marked an important step at RACE Awapuni, with horses returning to the course proper following it’s reconstruction.

Australian track experts, Flemington Track Manager Liam O’Keeffe and On Track’s Callum Brown, visited RACE Awapuni this week for a final inspection. Following their evaluation, it was agreed the track was ready for horses to return to it.

The first group of horses worked on the surface on Monday afternoon, followed by another session on Tuesday morning. Feedback from trainers and riders has been positive, and with just over seven weeks until the first scheduled race meeting on Friday, April 25, further improvements are expected as the track continues to settle.

In preparation for racing, gallops will be held in the coming weeks, followed by a set of jump outs on April 1 and official trials on April 8.

RACE CEO Tim Savell acknowledged the collective effort behind the track’s return, stating, “It’s great to see that all the hard work from so many people over the last 18 months is coming to fruition.

“While we are particularly grateful to Callum Brown and Liam O’Keeffe for coming on course earlier this week, the dedicated efforts of our track manager Daniel Amies over the past 18 months and the assistance of Regional Track Advisor Bryce Mildon have ensured the revised return to racing timelines have been met.”

“While there is still plenty to achieve over the next few weeks, the team and everyone within the wider RACE Group is looking forward to the resumption of racing at Awapuni when the track is ready.”

NZTR COO Darin Balcombe applauded those involved in bringing the course to this stage. 

“While there is still work to be done, it is pleasing to hear the positive feedback from senior riders and trainers after the gallops this week. We were lucky to have the expert advice of Liam O Keefe and Callum Brown to ensure everything was on the right track and the Club has worked hard to get to this point. We are excited to see the surface continue to improve in the coming weeks prior to their return to racing in April”

Jayne Ivil also visited RACE Awapuni to gather insights from Liam O’Keeffe, Callum Brown, and RACE Awapuni Track Manager Daniel Amies.

 

 

[curious]

Sounds like it's only 12-18 months away. Interesting they have the markers out and didn't work on the inside. Sounds a bit like Ellerslie with the sand profile needing a lot of water and verti-draining. Presumably will leave it a slower surface than it was?

Edited 15 hours ago by curious

[Freda]

11 hours ago, curious said:

Sounds like it's only 12-18 months away. Interesting they have the markers out and didn't work on the inside. Sounds a bit like Ellerslie with the sand profile needing a lot of water and verti-draining. Presumably will leave it a slower surface than it was?

12 -,18 months?  Is that a piss-take or does the April return mean next year?

[curious]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

12 -,18 months?  Is that a piss-take or does the April return mean next year?

No, not a piss take. Pretty sure I heard Callum Brown say in the Jayne Ivil interview, that while probably ok for an April return to racing, it would take another 12-18 months to fully consolidate given the sand based profile, and that if it is properly looked after, especially over the winter when recovery from usage is slow.

[Chief Stipe]

14 hours ago, curious said:

Sounds a bit like Ellerslie with the sand profile needing a lot of water and verti-draining. Presumably will leave it a slower surface than it was?

I hope not.  Wouldn't surprise me they haven't learnt from Ellerslie's experience.  Seems to have been a few sore horses after Champions Day.