News

Crisis talks over Doomben classic

20th May 2009

Daily Telegraph - Christian Nicolussi & Tony Meany - Wednesday, 20 May 2009

BRISBANE racing officials will hold an urgent teleconference today to discuss contingency plans for Saturday's blockbuster Doomben 10,000 meeting should heavy rain continue to fall across the state.

The big wet caused havoc for trainers first thing yesterday, with leading 10,000 horses denied access to the course proper at both a soaked Doomben and Gold Coast.

Chief steward Wade Birch said he would inspect Doomben today and chat with track manager Warren Williams, who last night had his surface rated a "heavy nine".

The pair will then speak with Queensland Racing manager Paul Brennan about a back-up plan should there be no break in the weather.

"It is still only Tuesday and if the weather cleared tomorrow we wouldn't be having this conversation," Brennan said last night.

"On Thursday we'll meet again to review the weather, the state of the track and the forecast before seeing what our options are."

Shifting the meeting to another venue could be one option, but Brennan refused to speculate.

As the rain tumbled, so did the hopes of several horses in the race.

In the latest carnival news:

 ORTENSIA, the $6 second favourite, will bypass the race and head straight to the Stradbroke;

 ABSOLUT Glam was backed from $17 into $12 while Youthful Jack firmed from $21 into $16;

 DANLEIGH worked over 1200m at the Gold Coast and will start, but stablemate Triple Honour's winter carnival is over, with trainer Chris Waller electing to spell his Group One winner;

 MICK Price will decide on a start for Light Fantastic on race day;

 MARASCO won't run if it's a bog, with trainer Fred Kersley admitting "everyone is in the same boat, we don't know whether he will handle it but the breed (Scenic) generally do";

 ANTHONY Cummings confirmed that Duporth would definitely run and worked well at Deagon early yesterday; and

 SWISS Ace will accept but won't start if the track is slow or heavy, trainer Mick Mair said.

One trainer delighted with the wet is Gary Portelli who could have both Something Anything and mudlark Over The Wicket lining up Saturday.

"Both horses love the wet and I'm hoping Over The Wicket can gain a start now if some of these other horses don't accept," Portelli said.

"Something Anything was three wide facing the breeze first-up (in the BTC Cup) and is much fitter.

"After we won the Villiers we said he'd target the three races in Brisbane (BTC Cup, 10,000 and Stradbroke) because if we got to Queensland and it rained, it would level out the fields and the top horses wouldn't get to use their turn of foot. He's such an honest horse."