Roller to be used at Eagle Farm

A forecast for fine weather all week will allow ground staff to roll the controversial Eagle Farm racetrack in an effort to overcome problems with the surface chopping up.

The track was again roundly condemned on Saturday when it played in the heavy range despite no rain for more than a week.

Local trainer Liam Birchley was among the many to raise questions after the last race.

“It is going to kill our industry here. I am sick of going to the races and telling my owners that their horse has worked well and has a winning chance only to see them labour on this track,” Birchley said.

“It is like throwing darts and guessing how they will go.”

Birchley wants every possible dollar thrown at getting a solution and he is likely to get his wish.

Track manager Sean Bridges went to stewards midway through Saturday’s meeting and asked for permission to roll the track.

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“They refused me but I will be rolling the track this week which should help,” he said.

The Brisbane forecast is for fine weather with temperatures in the low to mid 20s all week.

Suggestions the Oaks meeting on Saturday and the Stradbroke Handicap the following week would be moved to Doomben have been quashed by officials.

Brisbane Race Club Chairman Neville Bell said it was obviously far from satisfactory but the main thing was stewards and jockeys believed the track was safe.

“In the long term we are all committed to getting the surface right,” Bell said.

“I want the best solution, you want the right solution, the industry wants the right solution, punters want the best solution. We all do.

“Eagle Farm is the leading track in Queensland and we have to get it right for the industry’s sake.”

Bell said critics had to understand moving the meetings would cost the industry millions in lost revenue and achieve little.