Despite receiving 100mm of rain on Friday, officials are cautiously optimistic that the first day of The Championships at Royal Randwick will proceed as planned on Saturday.
Racing NSW chief steward Steve Railton rated the track a heavy 8 after inspecting it with an ATC track official on Friday afternoon. Railton expressed confidence that, barring significant overnight rainfall, the meeting would go ahead.
Stewards have arranged for two horses to work on the course proper early Saturday morning before making a final decision on track suitability.
Sydney is forecasted to receive up to 200mm of rain on Friday and between 10mm and 50mm on Saturday, with conditions expected to begin clearing by Saturday morning.
Contingency plans, including rescheduling The Championships to April 13, are being considered if the meeting is threatened.
Moving the event to Sunday or Monday is unlikely due to scheduling conflicts with the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Randwick track manager Michael Wood acknowledged the forecasted rainfall but expressed readiness to assess the track as conditions evolve.
The precedent of rescheduling due to weather was set in 2021, demonstrating a willingness to adapt to adverse conditions.
Despite the challenges, Randwick’s track condition is currently rated as a good three-four, with a good cover of grass and the rail in the normal position.
