A massive infrastructure upgrade of training facilities at Warrnambool racecourse will begin in early August.
Tender documents for the works, which include a stabling complex for new Warrnambool trainer, Tom Dabernig were released on Tuesday.
Warrnambool Racing Club chairman Nick Rule says the works, to cost in excess of $1 million, will be a big winner for local trainers.
“We’re revamping the whole area from the scraping sheds to the float carpark,” Rule said. “The works are much needed.
“We’re confident the new stables for Tom Dabernig, parallel to the swimming pool and the track, will be finished in the first week of December. Tom’s training complex will have two barns.
“We’ll be sealing all the roads and putting in new walkways in the whole area from down at the scraping sheds up to the float carpark.
“The whole area has been an eyesore for years and we’ll be doing our best to clean it all up. It will be the biggest infrastructure works that the club has done in that area for many, many years.”
The works come on the back of the recently completed $5.8 million refurbishment of the course’s Matilda Room.
Saunter set to star
Emerging jumper Saunter Boy is in top shape leading into the Lafferty Hurdle at Warrnambool on Sunday week, according to trainer Ciaron Maher.
Saunter Boy ran second behind stablemate South Pacific in last Saturday’s $135,000 Lindsay Gordon Handicap (2540m) at Flemington. The rising nine-year-old was scheduled to run in a jumps trial at Warrnambool on Thursday.
“I’m very happy with his progress,” Maher said. “He’s had a very good campaign.
“He ran fourth in the Galleywood (at the (Warrnambool May carnival) and was a bit unlucky.
“He made amends with a good win over the hurdles at Sandown next time and I think he should run well in the Lafferty.”
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said their maiden hurdle winner at the Warrnambool May Carnival — Wil John — has been set for a restricted hurdle at Warrnambool on July 4.
“He’s ticking over very well,” Maher said.
“I thought his maiden hurdle win was impressive and he backed that up with a nice restricted flat victory at Bendigo. We’ve got a good opinion of him going forward.”
Maher’s star jumpers Ablaze and Big Blue were down to trial at Warrnambool on Thursday.
“I’m not sure when they’ll kick off their jumping campaigns. It’s just a case of wait and see how they’re going.
“There’s some really nice jumps races coming up later in the season which would suit both horses.”
Ablaze won the 2020 Grand Annual Steeplechase while Big Blue won the 2019 Galleywood Hurdle.
Distance key to American
Long-distance jumps races later in the season are on the agenda for the Symon Wilde-trained American In Paris after his second placing in a restricted steeplechase over 3450 metres at Warrnambool last Thursday.
Wilde said the Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) and the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) were likely targets for the lightly raced five-year-old jumper.
“I’m sure American In Paris is going to be better in the longer-distance steeplechasers,” Wilde said. “He’s still learning about the jumping caper but he’s a true stayer and jumps well.
“I think he’s going to be even better next year.
“We might run him in a restricted steeplechase race over 3450 metres at Warrnambool on Sunday week but that won’t be his best distance.”
From eight jumps starts, American In Paris had one win and six minor placings.