By Adam Hamilton
Australia’s gun four-year-old Lochinvar Art returns from a break at Shepparton on Saturday night.
While he is classes above his rivals, a lack of race fitness and awkward draw make for a fascinating contest.
“He’s come up really well. He’ll obviously need the run first-up, he’s the sort of horse that thrives on racing and gets better with it,” trainer-driver David Moran said.
Lochinvar Art has drawn inside the back row over 2190m, while the lightly-raced and very promising Sirletic has gate two.
Former topliner San Carlo, who hasn’t looked himself in two runs this campaign, is alongside Lochinvar Art in gate nine.
The race lost one of the key players when trainer Andy Gath scratched the emerging Eureka.
Moran said making definite plans was tricky with the possibility of a match-race with Ride High as well as some uncertainty over the date of the Victoria Cup (currently scheduled for October 10).
“It’s tricky, but it is what it is,” he said. “The Victoria Cup is obviously the first major race we’re targeting, that’s if it goes ahead when planned.
“We’ve got huge respect for Ride High, he’s a great horse. They are both great horses.
“We won’t dodge him. We’re looking toward to racing him and will go into it pretty confident whether it’s a match-race or a race like the Victoria Cup.”
