RACING Queensland (RQ) – acting on a direction from Minister for Racing Grace Grace – has engaged one of Australia’s most experienced racing administrators to conduct an independent review of the Eagle Farm track.
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![Track review for Eagle Farm Track review for Eagle Farm](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fjc97JFBmLYW9DSUSgjdD/36801331-fa83-4b15-b689-78d8b83e8392.jpg/r0_0_1218_1542_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
RQ will use the expertise of former Victoria Racing Club CEO and current Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) chair Dale Monteith to ensure best practice strategies are employed moving forward.
The review follows the decision by Racing Queensland (RQ) to transfer the three remaining Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival Group 1 race days – Oaks (June 3), Stradbroke (June 10) and Tatts Tiara (June 24) – to Doomben, in light of the track performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday, May 27, which featured the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
Racing Queensland CEO Dr Eliot Forbes said the transfer was made after consultation with industry associations and some of the nation’s leading participants in order to present the best possible surface for Group 1 racing in Queensland.
“Consensus from the feedback was that while Eagle Farm was safe for racing, it was an inferior racing surface. The Monteith review reinforces RQ’s commitment to maintaining the long-term performance of Queensland’s premier racing surface, with the appointment made following consultation with the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC),” he said.
Dr Forbes said the Racing Minister had written to RQ and directed the Board to take all necessary steps to ensure the Eagle Farm track was rectified and made fit for purpose as an immediate priority. The scope of the review will be to consider the construction and preparation of the track, with a very clear focus on identifying the best remediation strategies for the racing surface.
As part of the direction under Section 44 of the Racing Act, Ms Grace requested a full briefing within four weeks of any steps the Board is taking – including obtaining independent expert advice – to rectify the track.
Ms Grace said she expected the RQ Board to work with the BRC and all stakeholders to ensure:
- Rectification works are undertaken as a matter of priority;
- A timeline for completion of rectification works is provided, along with regular updates outlining how works are progressing; and
- Ongoing maintenance programs are in place to ensure the Eagle Farm racing surface remains fit for purpose.
Mr Monteith, who has 37 years of experience in the racing industry, oversaw the re-design and construction of both the Flemington and Caulfield tracks with the Victoria Racing Club and Melbourne Racing Club, and will provide an objective report into the design, construction and maintenance of the Eagle Farm track. As well as having extensive experience in racing administration, Mr Monteith also chaired the Tasmanian Racing Industry Review Working Group (2014), reviewed racing in the Northern Territory (2014), and conducted an audit of HRV in 2015.
Dr Forbes said he looked forward to Mr Monteith’s findings, and working cooperatively with the BRC to provide outcomes that are in the best interests of the industry as a whole. “Mr Monteith’s independent and objective review will be a crucial step towards identifying strategies to help remediate the Eagle Farm surface. RQ is determined to ensure Eagle Farm retains its rightful place as Queensland’s premier track for many years to come. The timing of any works required will depend upon the remediation processes identified during the independent review,” he said
Mr Monteith said he was honoured to link with RQ and provide his extensive track knowledge.
“I enjoyed taking a hands-on approach to the construction at Flemington and Caulfield so the first thing I want to know is the basic design of the track and how it was constructed. I will be looking at all independent advice to ensure the best possible outcomes are achieved,” he said.
Egg Tart wins successive Oaks
![Jockey Kerrin McEvoy celebrates riding Egg Tart to win the Queensland Oaks at Doomben on Saturday. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy celebrates riding Egg Tart to win the Queensland Oaks at Doomben on Saturday.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fjc97JFBmLYW9DSUSgjdD/2ad9a46b-0abf-4568-a4d4-987fbbe58041.jpg/r1159_156_5373_3606_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
QUEENSLAND-bred 3YO filly Egg Tart now has successive Group 1 Oaks wins in South Australia and Queensland following success in the 2200m Queensland Oaks at Doomben on Saturday, June 3.
The Chris Waller trained filly emulated her stablemate Winx – winner of the Queensland blue riband two years earlier.
The much-travelled Egg Tart has now won six races in succession from eight career starts with her last four wins recorded in four separate states – NSW (Warwick Farm), Victoria (Flemington), South Australia (Morphettville) and Queensland (Doomben).
Bred at Jorson Farm, Wondai, Egg Tart is the second winner out of Mrs Windsor, a half sister to Group 1 winners Heart Ruler and Coronation Day and daughter of Metropolitan winner, Born To Be Queen. Unfortunately, Mrs Windsor died last year. Meanwhile, Egg Tart is the 29th stakes winner for Widden Stud based sire Sebring, and his fourth Group 1 winner after Criterion, Dissident and Hong Kong-based Lucky Bubbles.
Aushorse webnews reports that Sebring yearlings have sold up to $1.4 million in 2017 while at the recent Gold Coast Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, 12 mares in foal to Sebring were offered, with all sold, including $1.6 million for Polska who is carrying a full relation to Sebring’s Group 2 winners Catch a Fire and Seaburge.
History quiz
HANDS up if you can recall who won the Queensland Oaks 40 years ago.
Keep them up if you can also name the place-getters.
In fact the winner was the champion filly Surround (NZ) (Sovereign Edition/Micheline) with Florissa (NZ) (Azemann/Maggie) second and Northern Player (Grand Chaudiere/Skeencourt) third – the only three horses in the race.
I only know because I was cleaning out a cupboard when I found a 1977 Queensland Oaks race book. Modern day punters and race patrons would be aghast at the scant information provided – just the owners, breeding, and where the horse placed at its last three starts eg Surround 1-0-1.
The reason for the small field was the presence of champion filly Surround. Trained by Geoff Murphy, as a 3YO Surround won 12 out of 16 starts over distances ranging from 1200m to 2500m including the 1976 Cox Plate, 1976 VRC Oaks, 1977 AJC Oaks and the 1977 Queensland Oaks. She is the only filly to win the Cox Plate in the history of the race.
In fact, with Surround sent to the spelling paddock, Queensland Oaks runner-up Florissa then backed up to win the Queensland Derby.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have many of the results on the eight race program written down but among the horses racing that day included future Group 1 winners Spedito (QTC Stradbroke, BATC Doomben Ten Thousand), Grey Affair (QTC Brisbane Cup, BATC Doomben Cup) and Leonotis (AJC Epsom Handicap) plus other notable stakes performers such Queensland Cup winner Dmitri (NZ) and Queensland Guineas winner Bay Duke.