A Cleaner Profile, More Consistent Racing: Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s ThatchZyme Experience
For Jason Fulford, Track Manager at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR), managing the newly renovated StrathAyr track means paying close attention to what is happening below the turf surface.
Built on a sand profile, the track is designed to move water efficiently. As the turf surface matures the gradual build-up of thatch in the upper profile retains excess moisture and impacts water movement through the surface.
“With the new build-up of thatch that we are liable to have, it will hold moisture.” notes Jason.
A proactive approach to organic matter
Rather than waiting for organic matter to become a more significant issue, the ATR team decided to trial ThatchZyme as part of their ongoing turf management program.
Jason’s objective was clear: “Reduction of organic matter in the top 30 millimetres, consistency of water movement and infiltration through the profile, which helps us with consistent racing performance.”
That final point is particularly important for ATR. Managing organic matter is not simply about improving the appearance of the profile — it contributes to the team’s broader objective of producing a predictable and consistent racing surface.
Why ThatchZyme?
ThatchZyme provides a non-disruptive approach to thatch management using laccase, an enzyme that helps break down lignin — the component of plant material that is resistant to decomposition.
By breaking down this barrier, ThatchZyme supports microbial decomposition of organic material and helps reopen larger pore spaces within the profile, supporting improved water and oxygen movement.
For a sand-based racing surface, this provides ATR with another way to manage organic matter without relying exclusively on disruptive mechanical practices.
A cleaner, more functional profile
Since introducing ThatchZyme, Jason has been encouraged by what he is seeing below the turf surface. The changes become particularly visible after racing, when the upper surface has been disturbed and the underlying profile can be assessed.
As Jason notes: “Just a very clean profile. Once the horses are going over it, they break the top surface and what’s left underneath is what you can see where water can move down. It’s very clean and tidy, which is what we like to see in a straight sand profile”
Supporting consistent racing performance
ATR’s experience demonstrates how proactive thatch management can form part of a broader strategy for maintaining a high-performance racing surface.
For Jason and his team, the value of ThatchZyme comes back to a practical outcome: keeping organic matter under control, maintaining a clean and functional sand profile, and supporting the consistent water movement required for reliable racing performance.
ThatchZyme is available exclusively through Living Turf. Contact your Living Turf Representative to discuss a program suited to your turf, site conditions and objectives.
Maximising Results through a Complete Program
For best results, integrate ThatchZyme into a program alongside with MP Superior liquids such as MP Foundation and MP Promote. Together, they create a complementary approach that supports biological thatch breakdown and maximises the conversion of thatch into functional organic matter, improving infiltration, rooting, surface firmness and overall turf performance.