Stewards on weather watch for Warwick Farm

Stewards will continue to monitor Sydney’s weather with much rain expected at Warwick Farm.

Sydney racing officials remain on weather watch as predictions for torrential rain in the coming days threaten the Inglis Millennium meeting scheduled for Warwick Farm.

Stewards have already nominated Rosehill as a back-up venue for Saturday but such is the level of rain forecast, both tracks could be washed out.

Chief steward Marc Van Gestel said most of the rain predicted on Friday was expected to fall in the morning and as such officials would inspect Warwick Farm around 1pm (AEDT).

“We will then make a decision as to whether the track is still suitable or not,” Van Gestel said.

“At the same time we need to consider Rosehill and whether it will be suitable as well. Inspections of both tracks will be conducted and we’ll ascertain suitability for both of those venues.

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“As soon as we can make a decision we will but we want to give Warwick Farm every opportunity to race.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting between 45-80mm of rain at Warwick Farm on Friday and a further 35 to 70mm on Saturday.

Van Gestel said the forecast for Rosehill, situated further north in Sydney’s western suburbs, was similar.

“Even if we got 20 mils tomorrow (at Warwick Farm) and 30 mils Saturday it still would put that meeting in doubt I would suspect,” Van Gestel said.

Nine races are scheduled for Warwick Farm on Saturday including the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) featuring Golden Slipper favourite Cellsabeel, and the $1 million Inglis Sprint – 3YOS (1200m).

The program is a pre-cursor to the popular Inglis Classic Sale held next door at Riverside and kicking off on Sunday.