Racing is set to return to Te Aroha next week after the club successfully completed the return to racing protocols on Wednesday.

The course held a set of nine trials, with 59 horses from the Cambridge, Matamata, Te Awamutu and local Te Aroha training centres attending.

Through the latter part of winter, several scheduled meetings at Te Aroha were transferred to other venues to allow for extensive renovations to further progress the track surface and profile functionality.

“Over the course of the renovation project, we have completed extensive work on the track including sub soiling, air injection to a depth of 500mm and verti-draining with a variety of tines, among other things,” Te Aroha’s track manager Ryan Gartner said.

“We under-sowed the track and applied fungicide multiple times as well, including hand seeding and under-sowing the weak areas almost daily.

“I’m pleased to see the jockeys comments reflect the hard work that has been put in, and we will continue to put the effort in to produce a quality surface for the industry.”

Among a strong contingent of senior hoops was Joe Doyle, who expressed plenty of confidence after riding in six heats on a Good 4 surface.

“It rode perfectly today, there is loads of grass where we are racing,” he said.

“Its seems to be holding up perfectly and if the weather holds, I don’t see there being any problems. It rode really, really nicely.”

Graham Richardson, who trains at Matamata with Rogan Norvall, had an unraced three-year-old in the final trial and was equally positive in his review.

“I’m really pleased with it and it’s so nice to be back,” he said.

“The track seems nice and safe and it looks great. I’m looking forward to racing on the 30th.”

Northern-based commentator and Racing Te Aroha board member George Simon had hoped to see the venue come into play earlier in the season but is looking forward to the upcoming period of racing, which includes meetings on October 30, November 12, November 27 (Christmas at the Races) and December 8.

“Our return has been more delayed than we would have liked, but we needed that additional time to go forward with confidence and be able to maintain our scheduled programme,” he said.

“After the trials that took place today, I spoke to a number of senior jockeys who were very complimentary of how the track was presented. They said it rode well, had a little give and was well grassed.

“From my perspective, it looked good and with the positive feedback received, it augurs well going forward.

“The track will undergo further work in March 2025 after a period of racing.”

The Club awaits a final ‘go ahead’ to be given in the coming days, after consultation between the Club, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and the Racing Integrity Board. However, Stipendiary Steward, Brady Jones, gave the club some assurance with his feedback following the trials.

“The feedback from the senior jockeys was positive, and I see no reason not to proceed next week,” he said.