Positive signs at Rosehill ahead of Golden Rose
THE weather forecast in Sydneh this week was for showers on Thursday and Friday, but with improved conditions, the Rosehill surface won’t be too bad for the Golden Rose on Saturday.
Rosehill’s track manager Lindsay Murphy is confident of presenting a solid racing surface ahead of one of Sydney’s biggest meetings.
“We took a soil temperature reading about a week and a half ago and it was 12.5 (degrees) and today we took one and it’s up to 15.2,” Murphy said.
“It’s all heading in the right direction.”
Rosehill was rated a soft (5) on Thursday and the forecast is for more drying weather on Friday. There is a 60 percent chance of rain on Saturday with 3-8mm of rain expected to fall, but Murphy says its positive signs heading into the meeting.
“Earlier in the week the rain was forecast to come on Thursday and Friday but they have pushed it back the last couple of days and when that happens it tends not to occur,” he said.
“They’ve reduced the amount, pushed when it’s coming back and dropped the percentage chance of it arriving. From my experience of looking at rain forecasts, that’s a positive sign.”
“If we did get up to five mils it would ensure we’re a soft (5) and if we got around 10 I’d say we’d be looking at a soft (6). It wouldn’t make it horrific.
“If we don’t get any rain then I’m sure we’ll be on a good (4) Saturday.”
Rosehill has stood up track condition wise this year after both Randwick and Canterbury have come under fire and Murphy expects more of the same come Saturday.
“The track has raced well all winter,” Murphy said.
“It’s still coming out of winter but there’s plenty of grass on it, the growth is starting to accelerate now with the warmer conditions.
“The growth this week has been amazing. We’re actually mowing it again today.”