Conners hits out at Canterbury work

Long-time Warwick Farm resident Clarry Conners has hit out about work being carried out on Canterbury saying his home track is being neglected by the Australian Turf Club.

The ATC has begun work on a synthetic track at Canterbury, hoping to have it finished in time for it to be used by any international horses that come to Sydney for the spring.

Canterbury is used as a quarantine centre for overseas horses with their trainers saying they would like another track to work their horses on in addition to the turf.

The inner Sydney course is also earmarked for re-zoning.

“The ATC came out to Warwick Farm some time ago for a meeting with the trainers and told us the things they were going to do,” Conners said.

“None of them have been done and they are building a track at Canterbury to be used by a couple of horses for a few weeks,

“We have been waiting for a new course proper at Warwick Farm.

“They have sold land all around Warwick Farm but none of the money is being spent there.”

Conners has trained four Golden Slipper winners from his Warwick Farm stable along with a host of other Group One winners including champion Research.

ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said last week the Canterbury track would be utilised by local trainers when the complex was not in use for quarantine.

He said the Polytrack would give the club the option to let trainers use the facilities if for any reason their own tracks were unavailable.

Pearce said the re-zoning was insurance for the future.

Under the terms of the merger of the Australian Jockey Club and Sydney Turf Club to form the ATC in 2011, Canterbury cannot be sold until 2021.