TRAINERS THRILLED WITH NEW GCTC FIBRE TRACK
The Gold Coast Turf Club has been buoyed by feedback from key industry stakeholders on its new state-of-the-art Fibre training track.
The GCTC, with the assistance of Racing Queensland, installed the new FirbreTrack from Martin Collins Australia, which is a blend of Clopf Fibre and Sand, in November last year to replace the previous Velvet track.
The blend of fibre and sand is designed to improve the stability of the surface, ensuring it is consistent and uniform throughout, whilst also providing sufficient cushion to ensure the thoroughbred’s welfare.
The blend retains moisture and therefore requires less maintenance each day to ensure the track is prepared to a satisfactory standard.
Additional drainage was also installed to ensure the track could still be used following heavy rain periods – which was evidenced recently when the track was still used for gallops each morning despite over 320mm of rain falling during a 72 hour period.
Having tested and assessed the track over the past three months, leading Gold Coast trainers have given the new surface a resounding thumbs up.
“Having relied on the previous Velvet Track for some time to prepare our horses, the new FibreTrack has exceeded everyone’s expectations,” said Magic Millions winning trainer Gillian Heinrich.
“Our horses have responded magnificently to the new surface.”
Group 1 winning trainers Toby and Trent Edmonds said the addition of the new training surface was an important asset for their large team of 90 horses based out of the Gold Coast.
“The new FibreTrack has been a great success for the Club and you can see how the horses enjoy the new surface,” said Edmonds.
“We now know that every morning irrespective of the weather conditions we will have a consistent and stable surface to gallop our horses.”
Fellow Group 1 winning trainer Bryan Guy added: “the feedback from our trackwork riders has been overwhelmingly positive and we are amazed with the track’s ability to cope with significant rainfall.”
International Group winning jockey Robbie Fradd said consistency was the key with the new surface.
“Having galloped horses in trackwork all over the world, I am particularly impressed with the new SandFibre surface and its consistency in both wet and dry conditions.”
GCTC Racing Manager Ian Brown welcomed the positive response to the new training track as the club awaits funding for further track upgrades within the next 12 months.
“The GCTC is continually looking to maintain and improve the training facilities available for our local trainers so we are really pleased with the new track and the positive feedback from the training group,” said Brown.
“We acknowledge the training facilities require constant maintenance and improvement and we are pleased we can provide this to our trainers to ensure their horses are trained on suitable surfaces.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact GCTC Racing Manager Ian Brown on 0439 559 991 or ianb@gctc.com.au
