Midweek Doomben meeting moved to Sunshine Coast synthetic
After more torrential rain in Queensland’s southeast, Doomben’s midweek metropolitan meeting has been moved to the Sunshine Coast’s Polytrack circuit this afternoon.
Doomben was abandoned last Wednesday for the same reason, while the Gold Coast’s Recognition Stakes Day meeting was cancelled on Saturday.
The Recognition Stakes had been postponed to run this afternoon at Doomben, while the Eureka Classic for fillies and mares will go to Doomben on Saturday, with the 2YO Plate race set to be run and won on Friday night at the Sunshine Coast; however, with today’s move, the Recognition Plate will now go to Doomben on Saturday.
In September, Racing Queensland announced a contingency plan that would see South-East Queensland meetings moved to the Sunshine Coast’s new all-weather track should they be rain-affected.
The Polytrack was first used last Friday night’s Sunshine Coast meeting, which was originally set to be run on the turf but was transferred to the synthetic after heavy rain.
The synthetic specialist, Mystic Aroma, breaks her maiden for @HulbertRacing & we have our first ever winner on the new @SCTurfClub Polytrack. You just know @MugsPunting are going to love that one! #QLDisRacing pic.twitter.com/NbNmFfWiC0
— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) November 26, 2021
“Racing Queensland (RQ) confirms that following a track inspection the decision has been made to call off the Brisbane Racing Club race meeting at Doomben, tomorrow, Wednesday, December 1,” a media release from RQ read.
“The decision was made following the determination that the deluge of rain which has fallen at the venue over the past 24 hours has impacted the racing surface to the extent that there is no possibility that the track will recover in time for tomorrow’s race meeting to take place at Doomben.
“Cognisant of the fact that such an outcome was a possibility, RQ has engaged with the Australian Trainers Association, Sunshine Coast Turf Club and Brisbane Racing Club to establish whether there might be the potential to transfer the meeting to the all-weather track at Caloundra.
“Accordingly, and in conjunction with RQ protocol, the appropriate arrangements have now been made to transfer the race meeting to the SCTC Polytrack, with the exception of the Tattersall’s RC Recognition Stakes (Listed) which will now be contested at the Brisbane Racing Club meeting at Doomben on Saturday, December 4.”
The changes to race distances are as follows:
- Race 1 – was 1050m, is now 1000m;
- Race 2 – was 1650m, is now 1600m;
- Race 3 – was 1200m, is now 1100m;
- Race 4 – was 2050m, is now 2000m;
- Race 5 – was 1050m, is now 1000m;
- Race 6 – was 1200m, is now 1100m;
- Race 7 – was 1650m, is now 1600m;
- Race 8 – Recognition Stakes has been deleted from the program and replaced by what was previously Race 9, for which the distance was 1350m, but is now 1400m.
With the second rescheduling of the Recognition Stakes, it means that the Benchmark 85 Handicap over 1350m has had to be moved from Saturday’s Doomben meeting to the following day at the Sunshine Coast.
However, RQ has considered further program changes over the next week, noting additional races have already been added to the following meetings: Ipswich TC (Friday), Sunshine Coast TC (Friday), Brisbane RC (Saturday) and Sunshine Coast TC (Sunday).
Racing Queensland says:
The Listed Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes will now be run at Doomben on the weekend. Details are:
Saturday, December 4 – Brisbane RC at Doomben:
The Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes has been added to the program with the same field retained. Scratchings have also been reinstated; and
The BM85 Hcp 1350m on the program has had to be transferred to Ipswich TC on Wednesday, December 8. Original nominations and declared weights will be retained for this race.
The movement of this race has been deemed necessary to facilitate a 10-race card at Doomben, including the Recognition Stakes and the previously transferred Tattersall’s F&M Classic (Listed).
Sunday, December 5, Sunshine Coast TC:
The aforementioned race (BM85 Hcp 1350m, $75k from BRC on Saturday, December 4) has been added to the program.
Wednesday, December 8, Ipswich TC:
A further race has been added to the program in the form of a BM65 2150m, $35k. The Ipswich TC meeting will now be run as a 10-race card.