The club engaged falcons to get rid of the cockatoos, which numbered more than 2000.

The problem was identified last Tuesday afternoon.

An investigation into the damage revealed the lighting was still operational but that the wiring had been exposed and any moisture into the high voltage cables could cause the lights to fail.

A heavy downpour on Thursday created a greater threat. The club decided to bring the meeting forward to avoid any uncertainty.

The first race on the card was scheduled for 4.15pm and the last at 7.45pm with 30 minutes in between races.

The towers were inspected and given the green light to allow the Hunter Cup farewell meeting to go ahead without change.

Moonee Valley chief executive officer Michael Browell said it would take about two weeks of rewiring to repair the damage the birds had done in a week.

A new steel casing will be placed around the cabling to ensure that the cockatoos cannot attack it in the future. "You need to expect the unexpected in racing," he said.

"We're amazed at the level of damage that these birds have been able to create in such a short space of time."

The cockatoos are being relocated.