The $6.2 million track – measuring 13.5 wide around an almost 2000m circuit. It provides an alternative and consistent training surface during all types of weather, twelve months a year, particularly during winter and wetter periods.

Leading Randwick Trainer John O’Shea said the Polytrack would greatly benefit horses, owners and trainers.

“Randwick has always been a very good training centre but now it is by far and away the best training centre in Australia,”  commented Mr O’Shea.

“It has now got a top-of-the-range artificial surface that allows horses to work in any type of weather, and importantly more safely. This gives us an opportunity to work horses appropriately without having to trial on a regular basis which is a win-win for owners.

“With the Polytrack you have the best and most safe surface to ensure your horses remain sound.”

Fellow Royal Randwick trainer Mark Newnham, who also rides trackwork on the new surface, said: “Horses are comfortable from their first gallop, they take very even strides, and they are not getting unbalanced and fatiguing on it which can cause injuries.

“We will be able to have jump outs on it and condition the horses the way we want without extra expense to the owners.”

Video interviews with leading trainers John O’Shea and Mark Newnham are available here, along with Australian Turf Club General Manager of Projects Callum Brown and Royal Randwick racecourse manager Nevesh Ramdhani.