Saturday Track Reports October 31 - Five Metro Meetings

The track's in great condition. It's pulled up really well from Cox Plate Day six days ago and we're leaving the running rail in the true position just to ensure that we can utilise the full width of the track tomorrow for Derby Day. We received a little bit of rain Cox Plate Day morning and then some showers during the day but, all things considered, it's pulled up really well. We were a genuine Good 4 for that entire race day and for tomorrow's race day we're in the Good 4 range at the moment.

But there are showers forecast tomorrow, so we won't irrigate tonight. We'll rely on a shower or two, and if we get more than that, it will probably affect the track rating and might end up on a Soft 5. People should expect probably a little bit of rain and showers in the morning, so don't let that deter you, because as the day progresses, it is tipped to ease off a little bit and just turn into more of the odd shower. So certainly bring a jacket early, but cross our fingers we can head for a reasonable afternoon.

Circle-course racing, a little bit of marking on the inside, so I think that'll hold up for probably the first half of the card, coupled with those showers. We've got a headwind around the home turn early in the day, and then that shifts to a headwind in the home straight. So for circle-course racing, probably look for those horses that have just got a little bit of cover protected from the wind. And then for the straight course, a little bit of cover with that westerly wind wouldn't hurt much, just to give yourself that protection up the long straight.

It presents well across the straight. I think given the straight-course racing is more middle to later part of the card on Derby Day, they'll use more of that middle to outside part of the course. The team's done a great job. The track's in great condition leading into the remainder of the carnival and I'd expect we'll put the rail out to the three-metre position for Lexus Melbourne Cup Day. That'll just get the horses on some fresher ground around that home turn and set us up well for a big race day.

— Liam O'Keeffe, Flemington Track Manager, via Victoria Racing Club release Friday at 1.20pm

Track rating at Wednesday walk: Soft 5 (now Good 4).

Grass coverage: Good.

Irrigation: Nil last 24 hours; 12mm last seven days. Another 6mm was being applied during the walk.

Rainfall: Nil last 24 hours; 20mm last seven days.

Rail at Wednesday walk: +3m entire, moving in from the previous meeting to provide better ground.

Verdict: Track was rated Soft 5 at the walk. Irrigation and the forecast were being monitored to hold conditions around Soft 5/Good 4. Some showers were possible Friday and Saturday. Good grass cover, with the rail moving away from the previous meeting's wear.

— Racing SA track release, walked Wednesday at 10am

The track's currently rated a Good 4. We've applied 8mm of irrigation in the last seven days, nil in the last 24 hours. We've had 6.7mm of rain in the last seven days, nil in the last 24 hours.

We put the rail back in the True position for Saturday. It was out six metres the previous Saturday, Spring Champions Day. The track's in very good condition, lovely pad of grass on that inside. Haven't raced there since Epsom Day.

We've got a lovely fine day today, 22 degrees with southeast winds, 24 tomorrow with nor'east winds and a lovely 28 degrees on Saturday with around 25 to 40km/h nor'easters.

— David Anderson, Royal Randwick Racecourse Manager, via Australian Turf Club release Thursday at 11.20am