Firm Caulfield Track Raises Questions?

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ANOTHER chapter in Victoria's saga of troubled racetracks was added yesterday when Melbourne Racing Club presented a Good 2 surface at Caulfield. Racing Victoria policy says a track should be prepared with sufficient "give" in it to rate no firmer than a Good 3 for most of the meeting. Yesterday, RVL stewards upgraded the Caulfield track to a Good 2 about 45 minutes before the first race. Six horses were late scratchings from the meeting after trainers were allowed to withdraw their horses because of the upgrade, and trainer Alex Macpherson reported his horse Temper Tantrum jarred up in the first race. Most jockeys described the ground as firm. It follows an eyebrow-raising meeting at Geelong last month, when the track was rated Dead 4 but ended the rain-free day categorised as a Slow 6. And at Ballarat last week, stewards placed witches hats in the straight to prevent a chaotic traffic jam of jockeys and horses heading to the outside fence. Jockeys said the track ranged from Slow 6 for three-quarters of its width to a Fast 1 surface near the outside fence. RVL will build an outside running rail for Thursday's meeting at Ballarat. RVL already has fast-tracked an independent track walker program to provide greater certainty in track ratings. Last month, Benalla's track was shut indefinitely after a hole was found in it.