Crown Oaks Day Weather Update: Revised Starting Times

2015 Crown Oaks Day has been temporarily delayed after a massive storm hit Flemington racetrack in the last hour.

Jameka remains a narrow favourite in Crown Oaks betting following the heavy storm that hit Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Jameka remains a narrow favourite in Crown Oaks betting following the heavy storm that hit Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

The rain started just before the running of the Group 3 Gucci Stakes, which was won in impressive fashion by talented filly Secret Agenda, but it picked up quickly and stewards were forced to postpone the running of the Listed TV Stakes (1800m) that was originally set to begin at 2.40pm after 16 millimetres of rain hit the track in a short period of time.

A race day at Flemington has not been hit by such a big storm since 2010 Newmarket Handicap Day, but Racing Victoria Chief Steward Terry Bailey confirmed that the meeting would continue and any time lost would be made up later in the afternoon.

“We are confident,” Bailey said

“I have been talking to the weather bureau and they think that we have another half an hour of this.

“The horses are going to remain in the tie-up stalls and we are just going to ride it out.

“If we have to go back a race we will.

“The positive is that there is no electricity in it.

“It still gives me nightmares the Newmarket of 2010.”

The Flemington track has been downgraded to a heavy eight and the TV Stakes will now be held at 3pm.

The Listed Dilmah Earl Grey Stakes (1000m) will be held at 3.40, the Group 3 Mumm Stakes (1100m) at 4.20pm, the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at 5pm and the Crown Resorts Plate (1600m) at 5.35pm.

Pasadena Girl ($6.50) has been extremely well-backed in the Crown Oaks betting market with Ladbrokes and she is now on the fourth line of betting behind Jameka ($4.20), Ambience ($4.20) and Sacred Eye ($5).

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.