The weather forecast for Victoria Derby Day at Flemington predicts 2-10mm of rain, which will be a significant factor in determining track conditions.
Track manager Liam O’Keeffe is hoping the predicted rain stays away for Victoria Derby Day, as the Flemington track successfully managed to avoid heavy rainfall during the recent Cox Plate meeting.
Flemington’s track received 53mm of rain on Sunday following the Cox Plate carnival, allowing it to recover without requiring extensive attention.
O’Keeffe confirmed that 12mm of irrigation was applied on Wednesday and Thursday. However, he stated that no further watering would occur due to the showers anticipated to arrive early Saturday morning.
“We had 12mm of irrigation in the last couple of days to keep it in the Good 4 range ahead of the showers that are forecast on Saturday,” O’Keeffe stated.
“We won’t water tonight, we’ll let it dry out naturally and then if we get a millimetre or two, it will stay in that good range, if we get more than that, the track will soften from there.”
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting showers at Flemington to commence around dawn and continue until approximately 1pm.
“There may be two to 10 millimetres, the Bureau have said and then tending to scattered showers through the afternoon,” O’Keeffe explained.
“Our best result would be we get two or three millimetres prior to the races and then a clear afternoon and then we should be able to hold that good track rating for the day.”
A northerly wind is expected for the initial races, which will create a headwind at the home turn. This will then swing westerly, resulting in a headwind down the straight.
The rail will be in the true position for Saturday’s meeting, moving to the 3m position for Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday.
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