Trainer David Moran says he would love to get a slot in The Race with forgotten Aussie super pacer Lochinvar Art.
And while he has some big targets at home to get through first, Moran says bringing a top horse to New Zealand is something he has always dreamed of.
Lochinvar Art returns to public at the Melton trials on Tuesday to start a new campaign aimed at the Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile.
He missed almost all of 2021 because of two separate issues, suffering a corn before cracking a cannon bone.
During his rehab at Belinda and Luke McCarthy’s Cobbity Farm in New South Wales he also served over 30 mares.
“He has come back to me in great shape and is ready to go,” says Victorian-based Moran.
“He is a bit more boisterous than usual after his brief stint at stud but nothing that will affect his racing as he is such a nice quiet horse normally.”
All going well on Tuesday, Lochinvar Art could resume racing at Shepparton on Saturday week and then the Casey Classic at Melton a week before the Hunter Cup on February 5.
“The the Miracle Mile is the big aim but after that, if we got offered a slot somebody had bought, I’d love to go.
“We have heard all about it and it is a lot of money and I have always wanted to take a horse to New Zealand.”
The new $900,000 The Race was confirmed by Cambridge two weeks ago and was immediately on the radar of Australian trainers not only because of the huge stake but the fact it falls at a near perfect time on the calendar for the best Australian pacers, a month after the Miracle Mile and before the Queensland carnival.
News that the connections of Lochinvar Art may be keen as seen him slide straight into second favouritism with the New Zealand TAB at $4, alongside King Of Swing and just outside $3.50 favourite Self Assured. - Michael Guerin, HRNZ
