The $5.8 million facility was finished in late April but because of coronavirus has not been open to patrons for functions or the races.

Warrnambool Racing Club CEO Tom O'Connor said it was great the facility will now be utilised for the AFL finals and the upcoming spring racing carnival where patrons can catch all the action on the big television screen.

"We're putting our big toe into the water," O'Connor said.

"We've got strict protocols in place for everyone's safety. We can have 70 people in total in the complex and that will be broken up to 50 on the outside deck and 20 people inside. There are a couple of hospitality packages open to our members and the public for the up-coming functions. We can't wait until we're fully functional but over the next few weeks, people can get a taste of this outstanding facility. Bookings for the functions can be made on our social media sites."

Meanwhile, Matthew Porra has taken up the job as sponsorship coordinator for the club.

Porra, 27, was educated at Warrnambool's Emmanuel College before working for the Fremantle Dockers in managerial jobs

"It's just great to be back working in Warrnambool," Porra said.

"I had a great time working in membership roles with the Dockers. I had been over there for three years and I thought it was a great time to come home to family and friends. The job at the race club came up and I jumped at it. I'm really enjoying the job it's keeping me busy with the Jericho Cup, Port Fairy and Woodford Cups over the next few months."

Respected Warrnambool steward Frank Beattie made a welcome return to racing at the Coleraine meeting on Saturday.

Beattie, who has been a steward for 54 years, has been on the sidelines for six months due to the coronavirus pandemic but was trackside again for Saturday's nine-race program.

"It was great to get back to the races," he said.

"It was wonderful to catch up with the other stewards, trainers and jockeys even if it's under different circumstances. Racing Victoria has been forced to put strict protocols in place to combat the virus and they have done a wonderful job in keeping racing going in such difficult times."

Beattie took time to acknowledge the hard work put in by Coleraine's track manager Darren Kolpin on the racing surface.

"I've been going to Coleraine races for well over 50 years and the surface on Saturday was the best I've seen in my time," he said. "It's full credit to Darren for the work he's put in to have the track in great condition."

Kolpin is also the track manager at Hamilton.

On-pace galloper Trap For Fools returned to racing with a fifth placing in the group one Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday but Warrnambool trainer Lindsey Smith is facing a dilemma where to run the seven-year-old next.

Trap For Fools was just over four lengths behind boom galloper Russian Camelot in Saturday's $750,000 race.

"I'm not sure where he'll go for his next start," Smith said. "I was really happy with his performance but I'll have to study the racing calendar over the next few days as to where we go with him. He's just such a difficult horse to place. He's just below the top class gallopers and they will be there each week from now on. I've just got to try and find something a bit easier but then you face the problem of carrying big weights because he's won at group one level."

Trap For Fools won the 2018 group one McKinnon Stakes. His stablemate La Baol started favourite in a restricted race but was disappointing, running 14th in a 15 horse field. The stewards' report in part reads: a post-race veterinary examination of La Baol revealed the gelding was lame in the off-hind leg. A veterinary certificate is required before the five-year-old can run again.

Smith said he will be watching La Baol's condition closely over the next few days.

"I think he sustained a bit of bruising," the respected trainer said. "We'll keep a close eye on it. He's a lot better than that run. It may pay for punters to forget that outing."

La Baol has won three of his seven starts. One of those wins was at Sandown while the other two victories were overseas.

Hamilton-trained Cuban Fighter raced into calculations for the $300,000 Jericho Cup at Warrnambool on November 29, with a win in a guaranteed start race at Naracoorte on Sunday.

Cuban Fighter defeated Bear Arms and Spiegel Grove to win Sunday's restricted race over 3160 metres, while Master Fin scored an upset victory in a guaranteed start race at New Plymouth in New Zealand on Saturday. Trainer Mark Oulaghan indicated Master Fin may make the trip to Warrnambool for the 4600-metre flat race. Four more guaranteed starts races will be run in the lead-up to the Jericho Cup.

The races will be run at Gawler on October 23; Moonee Valley, November 13 and Canberra, November 15. New Zealand's other race will be run at Riccarton Park on October 24.

WINDSTORM: promising type who registered a nice Melbourne win on Saturday after showing ability in Perth. Punters can follow him with confidence.

SARACEN KNIGHT: having his second Australian start he scored an impressive win at Caulfield. He looks to have plenty of upside going into the spring.

CAMBOURNE: finished the Guineas Prelude over 1400 metres off strongly on Saturday. The 1600 metres of the Guineas looks right up his alley. He should be hard to beat in the group one race.

SUE JAENSCH: talented South Australian trainer. She's had plenty of mentions here over the years and she still keeps on getting winners. There's no reason for punters to stop following her stable.

NATHAN HOBSON: his stable is having a great run. Over the last few months Hobson is getting better quality horses in his stable and they are winning.