There’s no doubt about the sentiment that Casey Lock attaches to Saturday’s Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) candidate Viktor Vegas but even accounting for that, she’s adamant he can win.
It’s clear the Matamata trainer adores Tavistock nine-year-old Viktor Vegas and loves retelling the series of events that led to him joining her stable.
But she believes the gift-horse can look his rivals in the eye on Saturday and provide her with her biggest win in racing.
“I’m declaring him. I think he’ll win,” Lock said on Friday.
“He’s going the best he’s been. He’s working well; he’s looking exceptionally well. He’s bigger and stronger and not in the slightest acting like a nine-year-old. I’m positive that he’s got a very good chance of winning tomorrow.”
Viktor Vegas, a +650 fourth favourite for the Counties Cup with online bookmakers, began his career with Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman before breeder Bob Emery transferred him to Lock’s trainer father Peter at Te Aroha.
“He went really well for Dad and then Covid hit and everything got interrupted,” Lock recalled.
“He trialled up twice and went huge and then when it came to raceday he finished last twice in a row. He just wasn’t putting in and that wasn’t like him at all.
“He’d been such a good horse to Bob and he decided that since it didn’t look like his heart was in it any more, he’d give him to me as a sport horse.
“I gave him six months in the paddock and did showjumping with him, dressage and went out hunting. We did all sorts with him and he grew and filled out. I rang Bob and asked if he’d be interested in leasing him to me as a racehorse and give him another go and he was happy to do that.”
Peter Lock trained him and in nine starts Viktor Vegas won twice and finished his campaign with a fourth placing in the 2021 Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
“At that point, the lease ran out but Bob gave him to me and said if you want to keep on racing him there are no lease conditions. I got my trainer’s licence and the rest is history.
“Bob has raced some wonderful horses but Viktor is one of his favourites. He’s a sentimental horse to Bob and he knows how sentimental he is to me too. I couldn’t be more thankful to Bob and he’s given me Viktor’s half-sister by Churchill to lease too.”
Since taking over Viktor Vegas’ training, Lock has produced the veteran on five occasions, winning the Egmont Cup (2100m) at Hawera last month and beating subsequent Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) runner-up Inmyshadow before a tenacious last-start fourth in the Balmerino Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe.
“It was a huge effort considering he wasn’t suited to weight-for-age and that horse (Quiz Kid) going so hard out in front really undone the race for him,” Lock said of Viktor Vegas’ most recent run.
“Drawn one, he got stuck back on the fence and the race really wasn’t run to suit him so for him to come home like he did, it was a big run. He’s only a small horse and he did well to carry that big weight.
“Another stride and he would have run past Demonetization and he’s gone out and won a Group Two since so his run was really good and the sectionals back that up.”
Lock said the rain that had already fallen and was still forecast to come would only enhance the prospects of Viktor Vegas, a winner of six of his 33 starts.
“I’m glad he’s drawn out a bit (in barrier 13) because he’s better off not being stuck on the fence. He’s better out and rolling. He’ll go back from the barrier draw but I’m happy to leave the tactics to Kozzi (Asano, jockey). I’m pretty happy going into it.”
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