Randwick's new theatre shows plenty of promise New look: horses parade around the new enclosure at Randwick on Monday. Photo: Tamara Dean Somewhere between the Gwabegar wheat silo and Royal Ascot were descriptions of "The Theatre Of The Horse" at Royal Randwick, or more "Stables at the Cross" than the Opera House. Still, given a "test event" on Monday under racing conditions, the $160 million facelift at headquarters promises to be money well spent when completed, around July. Most could see the future with Sydney having a world-class racecourse, and it has sure come a long way in a month. On Monday it was still more building site, catering for 3359, than an outstanding facility. And what can be achieved between now and Saturday week for the Black Caviar bulge is vital. The Gwabegar quote came from Australian Turf Club member, Steve Ginty, formerly of Coonamble, who now resides in downtown Broadway. "It's where they dump the wheat in the Pilliga scrub," Ginty commented as the sun blazed down late in the afternoon. Stephen McShane, also a regular racegoer and world traveller, could see the similarity with the best, including Royal Ascot. Basically, the "Theatre Of The Horse," now placed at the back of the stand, is the new Royal Randwick focal point. Apparently, Royal Ascot is similar. However, many figure the enclosure is too small for the players - the horses - thus the mention of the Stables, a theatre in the round. How are you going to fit a big field into the area? "Fields like the Doncaster could be difficult but the average is around 12, which is very comfortable," Ray Murrihy, the Australian Jockey Club chief steward, said. Perhaps the atmosphere of a major race would be lost with the winner being whisked behind the stand to the Theatre. Consider Black Caviar being taken out back for, say 6000, with another 10,000 being left out of vision of the champ. Regular racegoers, the salt of the turf and hard to please, were satisfied, but most bookmakers were grumbling about the huge pylons that obscured vision. "It sure beats the flat," bookie Mo Conlon, 83, who started at Randwick (1960) in the cheap seats. Barbara Mason, who looks at horses more than odds, was delighted with the theatre, particularly as there is a stand to place her "program." Len Edmunds, decked out in Bulldogs gear and making a special trip from the western suburbs, was also impressed. "I usually only go to Rosehill, but this is world class," he said. Terry Bartley, a nephew of the famous "Melbourne Mick" Bartley, who pulled off many a coup at Randwick, was overwhelmed by the potential of the facilities. Gai Waterhouse gave Lynell Peck, the Hospitality and Operation EGC, a "well done" and Tony McEvoy, South Australia's leading trainer, described it as "fantastic." But how did the "test event" compare with those of the past at headquarters? "The first meeting held under the Australian Jockey Club auspices proved a great success," according to the Principal Club, A History of the AJC. More than 6000 people attended the first day [May 29, 1860]. Such were the improvements to facilities and track that one commentator was prematurely moved to describe the racecourse as 'the finest now in this hemisphere'. Later, "the Queen Elizabeth Stand changed Randwick's built landscape ... in July 1969 the AJC held an open house Sunday for the public and to the surprise of everyone 40,000 turned up - and it was not even a race day. Attendance figures at the following spring increased markedly - an increase that was directly attributed to the new stand. Of course, a name for the new stand is still being considered and won't be announced until September. Maybe Gwabegar will now be considered.