Magazine - Track consistency will be key to New Surface in QLD.

By Editor in Racing / Equestrian on 5th Apr 2008 7:00

The Sunshine Coast Turf Club says it has received record nominations for the grand opening of its new cushion track on Sunday.

Chief executive officer Mick Sullivan says the $6 million track has been used for official barrier trials and training since its completion in early March.
He says there have been rave reviews from jockeys and trainers on the track's performance so far. "Well we have received exceptional nominations, a record of just over 300," he said.

"We're going to have a massive day here. "I know eight races were programmed but I'd say we'll run at least 10 and it's just some fantastic support from the industry."

Chief steward Reid Sanders believes consistency of the surface will be the key to punters' willingness to accept the synthetic cushion track at the Sunshine Coast as a racing circuit.

Sanders, who played a major role in the selection of cushion track as the preferred synthetic surface in Queensland, is taking a personal role in the initial tests on the track.

Cushion track is the trade name for a combination of wax, fibres and high quality sand to produce an all-weather training surface which can also be used for racing. After yesterday's trials there was minimal marking of the surface and an acceptable level of "kick back" from horses at top speed. The track is a valuable training tool if it can withstand the harsh Queensland climate.

Horses had to work hard on what Sanders described as "about the equivalent to a dead turf track" and this was reflected in quite slow times.

"We can easily speed up the surface or slow it down," Sanders said. "We are using these trials to experiment with different levels of 'give' in the surface to find the right mix. The big thing is to give the punters a consistent track."

Top rider Jim Byrne rode in several trials and was happy with the feel of the new track. "It might be a case of horses for courses when we get to racing here but horses kept a good stride even though they were working hard," Byrne said.

Source: www.news.com.au

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