High winds forced the abandonment of Wednesday’s Geelong Cup meeting after just three races, with the remaining six events — including the feature Geelong Cup (2400m) — rescheduled to be run on Thursday.
Racing was initially suspended indefinitely following dangerous wind gusts before officials from Racing Victoria, in consultation with Geelong Racing Club, Sky Channel and Racing.com, confirmed the meeting would be postponed just after 3pm.
The revised program means Thursday’s meeting will include both the Geelong Cup and the Geelong Classic (2200m) — a traditional lead-up for three-year-olds targeting the Victoria Derby at Flemington on November 1. The Geelong Cup winner will also earn a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4.
Racing Victoria’s Head of Racing, Paul Bloodworth, said the new schedule would mirror Wednesday’s race times, with improved weather expected for the rescheduled card.
“The weather forecast is much better with only light winds, no rain about and potentially the track might even improve a little from today,” Bloodworth told Racing.com. “The first race will be at 2.25pm and the last at 5.30pm, basically in the same order as what was left from today.”
Bloodworth confirmed minor adjustments would be made to Thursday’s Mornington meeting to accommodate the overlap, along with necessary jockey changes.
“There were some jockeys dually engaged today who are also riding at Mornington tomorrow, so those riders will have to decide whether to take their Geelong or Mornington rides,” he said. “It’s really important to get the Geelong Cup run, given its ‘win and you’re in’ status into the Melbourne Cup, and the Geelong Classic as an important Derby lead-up. Everyone would have preferred to race today, but we’re making the best of a bad situation and getting it run tomorrow.”
Earlier in the day, RV steward Cory Waller explained the decision to abandon the meeting, citing recorded gusts of up to 76km/h at the weather station located in the middle of the track.
“The high winds were expected to continue through until around 5pm, and even then it was uncertain whether they would ease,” Waller said. “Given the lack of surety and the risk involved, we had to put safety first.”
Prior to the postponement, Gilded Water, the Royal-owned stayer trained by Ciaron Maher, had been the short-priced favourite for the Geelong Cup. The talented five-year-old will remain the likely top pick when the meeting resumes on Thursday afternoon.
