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Trainer David Moran is warning punters his star Lochinvar Art won’t be at his top for Friday night’s Newcastle Mile, which has been made tougher following a tricky draw.
The brilliant Victorian has the outside barrier for the $100,000 Group 1, but is still a warm $1.40 favourite with the TAB.
Lochinvar Art has barrier 10, but could come into eight given the two emergencies – Pitch Perfect (three) and Pump The Brakes (five) – are inside. All horses start off the front row.
‘Arty’ is currently staying with Belinda and Luke McCarthy at their Cobbitty property in New South Wales, with Moran having made the quick dash interstate on Friday last week.
“He travelled up good and he’s not going to be 100 per cent wound up this week, but I guess that’s not the end of the world. The grand final (Miracle Mile) is really in a couple of weeks’ time, so we’ll try and get everything 100 per cent and just do the best we can,” Moran told Sky Racing on Tuesday.
“He missed a fast work there in the middle, which sort of wasn’t the end of the world, and then we gave him a little hit-out up here Sunday, but nothing major. He’ll go again tomorrow.”
Moran said Lochinvar Art, who hasn’t been seen at the races since his big victory in the Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup on February 6, would need to be on top of his game to win on Friday night.
“Fitness probably isn’t going to be the issue, back to the short distance is not going to be the issue, it’s probably more just the barrier draw now,” he said.
“He is always better week-to-week. He’s going to have to be good.
“Turn It Up has been going really well… with Western Sonador and a couple of the others.
“He’s going to have to be good, but we’ll see how we go. I’m sure he’ll run a good race and be better again in a fortnight’s time.”
Western Sonador has come up with a handy gate one draw for Kialla trainers Stephen O’Donoghue and Rebecca Bartley.
Fellow Victorians Boots Electric and Kowalski Analysis will chase Group 1 glory in the Chariots of Fire at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night.
Trained by Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith, Boots Electric has drawn barrier three in the $200,000 race for four-year-olds, while Matthew Craven’s Kowalski Analysis will start from gate five.
