MOREE Race Club tomorrow stages a seven-race TAB card, and after nearly 100mm of rain fell on the Moree course proper last week, course curator, John Brown, is confident he’ll post the track a Soft 7, pending a stewards’ inspection today.

“We had 98mm, and the track really needed it because it’s been so dry for so long,” Brown said.

On Sunday, after local trainer Doug Fernando worked a horse on the course proper to get a feel of conditions, Brown rated the track a genuine Heavy 8, with two days of drying weather anticipated.

“With favourable weather, I reckon we’ll get pretty close to a Soft 7. We’ve had good conditions the last couple of days,” Brown said.

“The track is in pretty good condition, coming out of a tough summer. We don’t want any more showers, and the forecast has backed off a bit.

“But all this rain is very beneficial, and to even look like racing after 98mm this close to winter shows how dry it’s been,” he said.

Local trainer Doug Fernando starts Jet Empress and On Hold in the BM-58 tomorrow.

Both runners have drawn off the track, with 4kg-claimer Jasmine Urquhart-Warren, apprenticed to Brett and Georgie Cavanough at Scone, riding Jet Empress from barrier 15.

Senior jockey Clayton Gallagher will jump On Hold from gate 19.

Moree racecourse curator John Brown hopes the track will be rated a Soft 7 on Tuesday.

“Both my horses have drawn wide, but in our favour over the 950m here at Moree is that we’ve only got one turn,” Fernando said.

“It really shouldn’t worry them too much. I think they’ll go alright, and the best part of the track after weather like this is on the outside.

“It all comes down to whether they handle the conditions and get the right runs. On Hold has run OK on a heavy track in the past,” he said.

The Moree meeting drew 96 acceptances from across New South Wales and Queensland, with Scone trainer Scott Singleton trucking seven runners north for the meeting.

Singleton’s strong hand includes Staccato in the 950m My Moree Maiden Plate; Calzino in the 1600m National Jockeys’ Trust BM-66 Handicap; Zamalek in the 1400m Gwydir Maiden Plate; Haras in the 1200m Big Sky Country Maiden Handicap; Irish Jig in the 1200m Agriware BM-58 Handicap; and Pretty Cheeky and Kakoda in the 950m David Marshall Plumbing BM-58 Handicap.

Singleton has booked Mikayla Weir for the bulk of his runners, with 2kg-claiming apprentice Olivia Dalton on Calzino in the BM-66.

The trainer hasn’t confirmed a jockey for Kakoda, second emergency in the short BM-58 handicap.

Racing in the district continues on Saturday, when Mallawa Picnic Race Club stages round two of bush racing’s Golden Triangle.

The six-race meeting features the 1400m Mallawa Cup, worth $12,000, and 1000m Mallawa Bracelet worth $10,000, with major sponsors RDO Equipment Australia, B&W Rural, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Moree Irritek, Aircair Aviation,  Australian Food & Fibre, TitanAg, McGregor Gourlay and Boland Petroleum back for another year.

The track is expected to be presented in perfect order after 35mm of rain fell on the course proper last week.

There will be a marquee luncheon as well as the famous Moree Lions Club barbecue and live music after the races are run and won.

Online tickets to the meeting are available HERE.

Buses to Mallawa will also operate to and from the Royal Hotel in Moree from around 11am.

Nominations for Mallawa close today at 11am, with acceptances declared at 9am, Thursday, June 4.

Talmoi Picnic Race Club rounds out the Golden Triangle with six races on Saturday, June 20.

Bush Racing’s Golden Triangle

Mallawa: Saturday, June 6. Updates at Mallawa Facebook Page

Online tickets for Mallawa: Mallawa Picnic Races TIX

Talmoi: Saturday, June 20. Updates at Talmoi Facebook Page

Online tickets for Talmoi: Talmoi Picnic Races TIX