Ellerslie has been given the green light to return to racing following the conclusion of a successful trials meeting on Monday.
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s (ATR) race meeting last Wednesday was abandoned following race three due to safety concerns arising from a slip on their newly installed StrathAyr track.
ATR, in conjunction with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), undertook an investigation into the issues and came up with an agreed plan of action.
A set of eight trials took place at the track on Monday, giving Auckland Thoroughbred Racing the clearance to return to racing this weekend.
A number of industry personnel and senior jockeys were in attendance at the trials to monitor the surface, including representatives from Strathayr, Racing Integrity Board, NZTR and ATR.
ATR said they received positive feedback following the trials, with senior jockey Warren Kennedy excited to ride on the surface on Saturday.
“The track felt a lot better – they [ATR] obviously had done a lot of work on it since Wednesday,” he said. “The horses are getting a good bit of traction and there’s actually a bit of kick back now, which highlights the more traction the horses are getting.”
Fellow jockey Craig Grylls was also pleased with how the track rode. “I noticeably felt more traction and more give in the track,” he said. “The machinery work and the spreading of sand since last Thursday has certainly seen an improvement.”
