Following a track inspection on Tuesday, the decision has been made to delay the return to racing at New Zealand's Awapuni’s grass track.
The surface was initially out of commission for 19 months as it underwent an extensive renovation, and it was set to commence racing on Anzac Day earlier this year, however, that meeting was abandoned after a horse slipped during the opening race.
The track has subsequently undergone further remedial work, and the club has called upon the expertise of Flemington track manager Liam O’Keefe to assist in that process.
A set of trials took place at the Palmerston North venue last week, and while the club was pleased with the way the track handled those trials, a track inspection on Tuesday, attended by representatives from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, RACE Inc, the Racing Integrity Board, the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association, senior trainers and O’Keefe, confirmed the track needed more time.
“The track has made gradual improvement during the winter, but it still needs that little bit more time so it can host a large set of trials that would then tick off a race meeting,” O’Keefe said.
“It was a general consensus to give the track more time. It is still quite young and immature off the back of the necessary renovation works that were carried out to soften the track, which was really important so the horses can get good purchase in the track and make sure they are not going to slip.
“That (renovation) was successful and the trials went well, albeit there was a bit of kickback, which is expected with a new track. That is a good indicator to everyone that it needs more time, so it is going to get more time, which is a great result.”
While the track is being given more time to recover, Awapuni’s two scheduled meetings for next month (September 6 and 20) will be transferred elsewhere, and another track inspection will take place in order to assess whether it is ready to handle another trial meeting.
Another inspection will take place in three weeks.
