Continuing rain threatens to derail the Australian Turf Club’s plans to transfer Wednesday’s washed out Warwick Farm meeting to Thursday.
While the weather bureau forecasts Sydney’s deluge to ease during the next 24 hours, Warwick Farm track manager Mark Jones is exercising caution.
“Today they are still talking about a fair amount of rain. The big heavy rain cell over Sydney is just not moving … and that is a concern,” Jones said.
“All going well, this rain cell moves on this afternoon, or even earlier would be nice and we get get a bit of drying time.
“The forecast (for Wednesday), they did get it a bit wrong. It was supposed to be clear and not a bad day today.
“But when they updated it yesterday afternoon, I guess the writing was on the wall.”
Warwick Farm received a further 25mm of rain in the 24 hours up to an 8am track inspection, bringing the total to almost 80mm since Monday.
Race meetings at Moruya on Monday and Wyong on Tuesday were called off because of the weather.
They have been abandoned, leaving Racing NSW to schedule three meetings on Thursday as Warwick Farm joins Wagga Wagga and Gunnedah on the racing roster.
Sydney apprentice Brodie Loy had been booked for Warwick Farm and Wagga Wagga mounts, but he won’t be riding on Thursday.
He has been stood down by his master, Warwick Farm trainer David Pfieffer.
Pfieffer claims Loy hasn’t fulfilled the obligations of his apprentice deed and a stewards’ inquiry will be held before the first race at Warwick Farm.
Loy’s Warwick Farm book included last-start Randwick placegetter Denmagic, one of the favourites to win the Cafe Culture Insitu Handicap.
The first of seven races at Warwick Farm will start at 1.04pm.
