The TAB Summer of Glory narrative had its first chapter written at the weekend, when legs three and four of the Trots Country Cups Championship were won by horses with bold ambitions.

Lochinvar Art will enter this Saturday night’s $110,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup a short-priced favourite after obliterating his rivals on his home track of Shepparton last Saturday, while Fourbigmen reaffirmed his standing among the next tier with a commanding win at Hamilton on Sunday.

The performances only fuelled the fire for what shapes as a terrific month’s racing, which will culminate with the $500,000 Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup on February 6 at Tabcorp Park Melton, when interstate raiders King Of Swing and Chicago Bull will battle Lochinvar Art for what’s essentially the nation’s heavyweight title.

Though for some it may be disputed, others will argue that title currently rests with Victoria Cup winner Lochinvar Art.

They would have had their position reaffirmed by his performance on Saturday when he cruised to victory in his home-town Neatline Homes Shepparton Gold Cup, in the process matching the track record despite being largely untested.

Trainer/driver David Moran admitted post-race “it’s pretty scary really”.

“He had a pretty easy lead time, but to do it the way he did it (was) pretty arrogant,” he said, after Lochinvar Art stormed home in a 54.9sec last half to win by 16 metres.

“He’s pretty basic. He’s not too perturbed by a lot of things. I always refer to him as Mike Tyson, he pulls the black trunks up and he’s pretty happy go lucky, he doesn’t care, he’s just out there to fight.”

Making the result all the more significant for Moran was that it was his first victory in his home cup.

“Not only is it good to win your home cup on your home track, but it’s great to do it in front of everybody involved,” Moran said.

“I’ve got a lot of friends and family here tonight, there are a lot of local people that seem to follow this horse. It’s great for the industry.”

Lochinvar Art is among nominees for Saturday’s Ballarat Cup along with Bendigo Cup winner Wolf Stride, Cobram Cup winner Perfect Stride and Hamilton Cup winner Fourbigmen, meaning all who have claimed a Trots Country Cups Championship this season could be on a collision course.

The last of those to salute, Fourbigmen, was impressive in confirming his favourite status in the Hamilton Cup by sitting in the breeze for the last lap and holding off all comers.

In only her second drive on the Emma Stewart-trained five-year-old, following on from a last start second in the Bendigo Cup, Kate Gath advanced Fourbigmen to the front of the running line with a lap to go and rattled home in 54.9sec outside leader and stablemate Struve.

“When Struve had to give a little bit to find the front and then backed off it was the perfect opportunity to put ourselves in the race and then ease off once we got there,” Gath said.

“He was really good up the straight. He was the class runner of the field and that’s what he did to them today.”