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Harness Racing New Zealand has no plans to ban carbon fibre sulky wheels even though their Australian counterparts have.
The wheels, imported from the United States, were banned in Australia from yesterday after concerns about their strength under pressure.
They have revolutionised New Zealand harness racing, with most national records this season set by horses towing sulkies fitted with the wheels. That includes Flashing Red in the New Zealand Cup, Auckland Reactor in the New Zealand Derby and Gotta Go Cullen in the Auckland Cup.
The wheels are thinner and undoubtedly faster on all-weather tracks but at around $2000 a set they were slow to sell when first introduced to New Zealand.
But once the edge they provide horses, particularly at the elite level, was evident they have become commonplace in the past six months.
Australian authorities withdrew their approval for the wheels on Thursday after concerns voiced over several wheels fracturing during races. The wheels are common in North America where there is far less contact in races and their structural strength is rarely tested.
HRNZ boss Edward Rennell says that while his organisation is monitoring the situation there were no plans to ban them here.
"There have been a few cases of wheels being smashed but that can happen with any sulky wheels," said Rennell
One leading South Island trainer gives his owners the options of using the wheels with their horses - at a cost of $30 a race.
