Randwick’s scheduled ten-race program, headlined by the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m), was abandoned on Saturday after officials deemed the track unsafe due to extreme wet conditions.
Almost 215mm of rain fell at the course during the past week, with 45mm arriving overnight. The heavy rainfall saw the surface downgrade from a heavy 8 to a heavy 10 before race day.
Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon said hopes of proceeding were dashed during a 7:30am (AEST) track inspection, following an early morning gallop.
“We galloped the track just before six o’clock and it was already extremely heavy,” Moxon told Sky Racing Radio. “Unfortunately, further rain hit soon after, and that made the decision for us.”
Moxon added that improvement in the surface was needed to race but with rain forecast throughout the day, it was unrealistic to expect conditions to recover in time.
Officials from Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club will now meet to determine whether the Missile Stakes can be moved to another date.
“Plans will be made to ensure the race is contested,” Moxon said.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects showers to continue in Sydney until the middle of next week, with the heaviest falls predicted over the weekend and into Monday.
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