Timely rainfall will help prepare the racing surface for Tuesday's opening day of a revised Warrnambool May Racing Carnival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
More than 30 millimetres of rain, as of Friday afternoon, has fallen on the track in the past week, giving jumping horses the perfect surface for the all-jumps meeting on the first day of the two-day meeting.
Warrnambool Racing Club racecourse manager Daniel Lumsden told The Standard he expected the track to be rated in the soft six to soft seven range for Tuesday's meeting which features the Grand Annual Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle.
MORE RACING:
"We needed the rain this week," he said.
"It's been perfect in the lead into the two-day meeting. We were watering the paddocks last Sunday and Monday for the jumps trials on Tuesday but we've had good rain on Thursday and Friday.
"The weather forecast is for fine weather on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday which is great.
"I'm expecting the course proper to be in the soft range for the flat races on Wednesday.
"The running rail will be in the true position for Wednesday's meeting which includes the running of the Warrnambool Cup and the Wangoom Handicap."
This year's Grand Annual Steeplechase attracted eight entries when they closed at 11am on Friday including last year's winner Zed Em, 2018 winner Gold Medals and the rising jumping star Ablaze.
The Galleywood Hurdle has eight runners.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
