The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast between 2 and 10 millimetres of rain for Victoria Derby Day at Flemington.
Flemington’s track managed to avoid significant rainfall during the Cox Plate carnival, and track manager Liam O’Keeffe is optimistic the predicted showers will bypass the course for Victoria Derby Day.
Following the Cox Plate meeting, Flemington received 53mm of rain on Sunday, which aided the track’s recovery without requiring extensive attention.
O’Keeffe indicated that 12mm of irrigation was applied on Wednesday and Thursday. However, with showers anticipated to arrive early on Saturday morning, no further watering will occur.
“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.”
O’Keeffe noted that the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast suggests showers at Flemington commencing around dawn and continuing 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.”
According to O’Keeffe, a northerly wind is expected for the initial races, creating a headwind at the home turn before shifting to a westerly direction, which will result in a headwind down the straight.
The rail is set to be in the true position for Saturday’s racing program, with a move to the 3-metre position planned for Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday.
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