A new driver might set hearts a flutter for Nissen's Lover

John Nissen will place his trust in a new driver for Locksley Lover’s tilt at the Aldebaran Park Bendigo Trotters Cup on Friday night.

The 71-year-old owner-trainer has had to work hard in order to get his six-year-old primed for the $25,000 feature.

“He is a very nice horse, (but) sort of had six months in the doldrums and I couldn’t work out why he wasn’t going his best,” Nissen said. “He has had a bit of time to get back, and he had a first-up run at Melton last Saturday week and went super.”

The son of Elusive Charm finished third in the City of Melton Trot behind eventual winner Ollivici.

“He ran a ripper of a third and he needed about another five meters to catch them,” he said.

Locksley Lover’s regular driver Rebecca Bartley has been suspended for the week, with 27-year-old reinswoman Tayla French to take the steer on Friday.

“Tayla French will have her first drive on him. She drives really well, so I hope all can go well,” he said. “I will tell Tayla what I know about the horse, but anyone that goes out with plan A never seems to go right.”

Six horses will join Locksley Lover off the 10m line, including the Andy Gath-prepared Chinese Whisper and the winner of the Charlton Trotters Cup, Kyvalley Hotspur. Im Ready Jet, One Over All and Sundons Courage are co-backmarkers with a 30m handicap.

“I don’t think it will worry him (the draw),” he said.

“He normally comes away well and he is pretty versatile.

“If he gets to the front, I think he will be very hard to beat. He has got a lot of speed over that last 600-800 metres.”

The 2650m Bendigo Trotters Cup is race six on the all-trotting card from Lord’s Raceway and is set to go at 8.03pm.

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