Lochinvar Art’s trainer Rodney Lakey has kept up the positive reports ahead of the star’s imminent return to the trial circuit.
Lakey joined SEN Track’s TrotsLife on Tuesday to chat about the seven-time Group 1 winner, who hasn’t raced since February’s A.G Hunter Cup.
Since then, he’s battled a hoof problem caused by a box accident but appears ready for a trial in the coming few weeks.
“I don’t know the horse. If I had a little bit of previous history with the horse I’d have something to compare to, but everything is great,” Lakey, who has been at Lochinvar Lodge in Kialla for less than a year, said.
“His coat is coming out, he looks good, he’s just a weapon around the stables. He knows he’s good and good racehorses find a way.
“It’s all a guessing game for everyone at this stage, but he literally shows no signs of anything that wouldn’t suggest he’ll just come back to the Lochinvar Art that we know.
“I see he’s about 8-1 for the Inter Dominion and I think that’s a fair estimate for where he is at the moment. He’s a great horse – one of the best in the country, if not the best – and all going well he’ll make it back to what he’s capable of.”
Lakey expected that Nathan Jack would drive Lochinvar Art in his return to the races if regular reinsman and former trainer David Moran remains out through suspension.
Last month, Lochinvar Art was crowned Victorian Horse of the Year for a second-straight season.
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH LAKEY ON TROTSLIFE BELOW:
