Wagga’s new harness racing track continues to progress with the first official trials held on Tuesday.
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However work still continues as the club prepares to hold their first meeting at the Cartwright’s Hill site.
Harness Racing NSW chief executive John Dumesny was on hand and is pleased with how things are progressing on a project a long time in the making.
“We inspected the track and it’s good to go and we’ve inspected the stables and the club is still working to put the final bits and pieces in here,” Dumesny said.
“There is no issues with it being operational.
“The contractors have to work tirelessly to get the clubhouse completed for next week.
“As far as we can tell, and we will do more testing, all the timing systems and racing systems are working in the officials pod.”
Four official trials were conducted with group one winner Molly Kelly among the winners.
She’s back with Bernie Kelly after going the majority of her racing for Emma Stewart.
Kelly is unsure where her racing future lies.
“I don’t know,” Kelly said.
“I haven’t spoken to her (Stewart) about it.
“Down there I didn’t think she was going quite as well as she could be so we turned her out and I haven’t talked to anyone about her.”
Molly Kelly won six races at a two-year-old including the group one NSW Breeders Challenge as was also placed in two other group one races.
Despite a second in the Breeders Challenge final last season, she didn’t taste the same level of success
Bruce Harpley took the drive and was amazed by the similarities she showed to her full-sister, millionaire mare Frith.
“It was 100 per cent Frith,” Harpley said.
“Out of the mobile she was like I'm going and don’t try to stop me, get to the front and don’t hunt me now as I’m not going to go any quicker but as soon as they started to come at her she went.
“That was Frith to a tee and you wouldn’t think a full-sister would be so much alike in their racing nature.
“It is unbelievable.”
Harpley was also at the workouts last week and thought the track was heavier this time around but is impressed with the facility as a whole.
“It doesn’t get any better,” he said.
Wagga’s first meeting is on Monday with the official opening on March 10.
