Racing to go ahead at Randwick despite wet

Monday 20 April 2015, 4:18pm

The Anzac day meeting will be run at Randwick despite the forecast for heavy rain in the lead-up.

NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy raised concerns after Saturday's final autumn carnival meeting the track may not be up to another day of racing within a week.

Murrihy and track manager Nevesh Ramdhani inspected the course proper on Monday morning and decided it would be safe to race with altered rail placements.

The rail will be 12 metres out from the 1600m mark to the winning post, and out six metres from the post back to the 1600m.

The move allows 16 metres of track between the inside and outside rails with rain expected to ease in Sydney on Wednesday.

While the wet is a concern to many trainers, David Payne is one planning to take advantage of it by backing Dowdstown Charlie up from his close second on heavy ground at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The four-year-old's two wins have been in the wet as have five of his nine minor placings.

Dowdstown Charlie has been entered the Benchmark 80 (1400m).

"He's only a Benchmark 64 but with this wet weather I'm hoping some of the others drop out," Payne said.

"The wet tracks suit him so well and give him a chance.

"And if I can get a claiming apprentice that will also help."

Payne also has French import Paederos entered at Randwick hoping he can capitalise on his recent Brisbane win in the 1600m Benchmark 90.

The gelding came to Australia in late 2013 as a maiden but with a close second to Spiritjim at Longchamp on his record.

Spiritjim subsequently beat Frankel's brother Noble Mission to win the Group One Prix de Saint Cloud.

Paederos has won five races in Australia but his Doomben victory on March 21 was his first for nine months.

"I'm not sure he wants it too much worse than soft," Payne said.

"We'll wait and see with him."

The Chris Waller-trained Mulaqen heads the 16 entries with a rating of 98.

– AAP

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