Overview

• Racing NSW stewards and the Australian Turf Club inspected Randwick around 5:30am, took rider input, and declared the meeting safe to proceed despite a Heavy 10 rating.
• The course had absorbed more than 200mm of rain during the week, including about 40mm in the previous 24 hours, prompting heightened safety and fairness concerns.
• Chris Waller criticized the decision to race and withdrew Fangirl from the $1 million Group 1, arguing wagering and prizemoney pressures discourage postponements.
• Waller called Via Sistina a lineball decision to run and walked the track pre‑race; the mare then captured the Winx Stakes, edging stablemate Aeliana.
• Track officials Michael Wood and Tom Moxon said the surface presented in a very safe state, while jockeys including Kerrin McEvoy and Jason Collett reported it rode well.