The club has lost its last two meetings due to the state of the track, prompting new chief Malcolm Hart and Morton to undertake a $35,000 upgrade.

The works targeted areas susceptible to water-logging, which Morton said had handled recent rain without a problem.

“We’ve had 44mm of rain since last Thursday morning and it’s currently a slow (7),” Morton said.

“I walked the track this morning and it’s looking terrific — certainly better than what it was a few weeks ago.”

Morton said the track was unaffected by jump-out trials with 42 horses.

“It didn’t leave a mark,” Morton said.

“It’s going to race really well and really even on Saturday.”

- Wodonga galloper Pink Shimmer will return to the scene of its biggest victory in tomorrow night’s $70,000 Mares’ Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

The Manikato Stakes meeting will be the John Rooney-trained mare’s first outing as an eight-year-old after spending 11 weeks in the paddock.

Two of Pink Shimmer’s last three wins have been on a rain-affected Moonee Valley, the most recent being in a $70,000 Fillies and Mares Hcp (1600m) on a heavy (8) track.

Showers and possible thunderstorms are forecast for the next two days in Melbourne.

- Hong Kong rider Olivier Doleuze will partner Wangaratta galloper Dr Nipandtuck in tomorrow’s mouthwatering $70,000 open Hcp (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

Doleuze has come to Australia for a special three-race jockey challenge which will pit Hong Kong riders Douglas Whyte, Brett Prebble, Howard Cheng and Doleuze against Craig Williams, Damien Oliver, Dwayne Dunn and Craig Newitt.

Doleuze and Dr Nipandtuck will take on a strong field including exciting Mick Price galloper Pre Eminence, which won the group 2 Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley in February.

The French-born Doleuze is regarded one of the premier jockeys in the world with over 700 career wins.