In an extraordinary turn of events, Royal Randwick Racecourse has been drenched with a whopping 230mm of rainfall within the last 24 hours. Despite this deluge, racing authorities have made the bold decision to press ahead with Day 1 of The Championships.
Stewards, after careful consideration, announced early Saturday morning that the event would indeed proceed. At 7:45 am, they confirmed, stating, “The meeting will proceed on a Heavy 10. Section near the 1000m is consistent with the rest of the track and is suitable to race.”
However, the inclement weather hasn't spared the race card entirely, as several notable scratchings have been announced. Among them, Zougotcha, Golden Mile, Semana, and Southport Tycoon have been withdrawn from the Doncaster Mile. Additionally, Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot will no longer participate in the Sires, and Zardozi has been scratched from the Derby. Private Eye and Cylinder have also been sidelined from the TJ Smith.
Track manager Michael Wood provided insights, reassuring stakeholders that despite the heavy rainfall, there's been no significant waterlogging. He even hinted at a potential track upgrade as conditions improve throughout the day.
Earlier on Saturday, stewards reported a specific concern near the 1000m mark due to water overflow from a nearby catchment. However, they pledged to closely monitor the situation, with a decision expected within 30 minutes.
The relentless downpour didn't go unnoticed by trainers, with Peter Moody and Michael Freedman sharing videos on social media depicting the intensity of the rainfall. By 6:15 am, Randwick had accumulated a staggering 231mm of rainfall.
Despite the challenging conditions, there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon as the weather radar indicates a shift away from Sydney, signaling potential relief for the beleaguered racecourse.