Lord Rose First Winner On Polytrack Trial Run

Gold Circle Racing issued a press release dated Wednesday, 4 June 2014 reporting back on their four Polytrack trial races held on Tuesday, 3 June.

Although Greyville’s synthetic track is configured to accommodate a maximum 12 runners, following the four trial races, in consultation with the jockeys, Gold Circle management has agreed to limit field sizes to 10 runners over distances from 1000m to 1600m and 11 runners for distances beyond 1600m for the time being.

Although no betting took place, Lord Rose won the first trial race run on the new Polytrack at Greyville over 1600m. A half-brother by Overlord to the internationally acclaimed Group winner The Apache, it was a wonderful piece of history to witness with Lord Rose being appropriately bred by the Scott Bros – besides being one of the oldest stud farms in the country, the Scott Bros have a rich association with success at Greyville racecourse, particularly with Durban July winners such as Politician, Devon Air and Illustrador, even having an association with Teal after importing his dam and standing Champion sire Foveros.

Lord Rose is trained by Doug Campbell and the gelding was ridden by Billy Jacobson.

It is the second win for Lord Rose, who has placed seven times previously and clearly enjoyed the new surface. He is owned by Messrs A Sukhraj & S Sukhraj, Douglas Campbell & R M Scott.

Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins stated “The jockeys participating in the trial races were most impressed with the surface. They indicated a preference for “firming up” the track and we expect to race on a clegg-hammer reading of somewhere between 85 and 95. But in discussion with the jockeys we agreed that during the initial phase-in period we would limit the field sizes and re-assess the situation after the first couple of race meetings.”

Declarations for the first Polytrack race meeting at Greyville on Wednesday, 11 June 2014 close on Thursday, 5 June at 11:00.

– extract sportingpost.co.za