Racing: Heavy track first for years

By the time of Race 7 at Flemington yesterday the shadows were right across the track. Photo / Getty Images

Ben Melham was not perturbed about the state of the Flemington track after he guided the Peter Moody-trained Riptide home a winner in a depleted field.

Flemington had its first heavy track since the reconstruction of the surface in 2007 due to an invasion of cockchafer beetles which have eaten the roots of the grass, leaving the track heavy and shifty.

After rain yesterday morning, adding to the 31.4mm during the week, Flemington track manager Mick Goodie rated the track a heavy (9).

"It's heavy but it's not as bad as I first thought it would be. It's just a genuine heavy," Melham said after the second event, the Bruce Gadsden.

"She [Riptide] had them sorted a long way out.

"Obviously Peter Moody had her very fit and we were able to control the race from where we were and with the small field they didn't go very quick and we were able to get going when we wanted to.

"It was a good win."

After five scratchings early, topweight Jaggers also came out behind the barrier after veterinary stewards reported the gelding had hit his head, leaving a field of only four runners.

Michelle Payne, who guided Platinum Passion to come from last and win the Hilton Nicholas Hcp (1400m), described the track as slow rather than heavy.

- AAP