Randwick's "much-maligned Kensington surface will undergo a serious renovation in summer," and Track Manager Nevesh Ramdhani is "adamant it can be a long-term pressure-reliever for Sydney's course-proper woes," according to Adam Pengilly of THE AGE. Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride "led the criticism of the track, which was only reopened in October." Ramdhani, however, said that pictures telecast of Sydney's final Saturday metropolitan meeting of the season "gave the impression the track was playing worse than it was." Ramdhani: "When you looked at the damage, even though a lot of grass was flying in the air, it wasn't anything worse than a dead surface. It was definitely a dead track, it just didn't look like a dead track." Ramdhani said the Kensington surface would "undergo a makeover after the Villiers Stakes meeting in December, allowing it to be used more regularly in winter to ease the load on Sydney's other tracks" (THE AGE, 7/27). In Auckland, Barry Lichter reported the Auckland Trotting Club "has mellowed its stand on closing Alexandra Park as a training centre by announcing it will now allow trainers to work horses on the course with prior notice." But the ATC board "remains steadfast that from Friday no horses can be stabled on the course" and it put the issue to a vote at a special general meeting of members on Sunday. The decision drew "widespread criticism, especially from those concerned that visiting trainers would no longer be able to familiarise their charges with the tricky right-handed circuit before raceday" (SUNDAY STAR TIMES, 7/27).
