Possible showers each day leading in, track may remain soft, may be upgraded given the late start, only time will tell. Kick things off with a 2200m C1 Plate. No's 3 and 7 map to land up front, race very much run to suit. HIGHLAND KITTY mapped very well up front recently only to be scratched (and of course the leader there went on and won, of course it did). Hopefully the mare only had a minor issue, would love to see a rule whereby all scratchings come with a 'reason why' when they scratch. Examples, 'temperature, blood count, lame, alley, dual acceptor, opted for another race on the weekend'. You know it makes sense. Would really help the punter, the one that funds this great game. MAKAMAE should be hard to beat, smart move taking a claim. One of the two should win and the other should stick around for a place. Best of the rest, O'EXPLOSIVE.