LITERARY genius Geoffrey Chaucer once sagely speculated that all good things must come to an end. 

Often, however, it’s the way things finish, not their predictable conclusion that causes most pain and suffering. 

Right now, it may be premature for us to memorialise the legendary career of modern-day champion Lochinvar Art. Still, the signs are far from promising. 

On Saturday night, Rod Lakey’s seven-time Group 1 winner was clearly under the microscope. 

Having won 14 of the 18 races he contested between claiming the 2020 Chariots of Fire and the 2021 Hunter Cup, injuries and attrition had seemingly slowed the once invincible regent of Australasian pacing. 

In all Lochinvar Art has faced the mobile just six times since his career-defining Hunter Cup triumph 19 months prior; amazingly without success. 

There’d been excuses, of course, and most of them exceptionally reasonable in nature. 

Perhaps the great one had been rushed a little too quickly in his initial comeback campaign; still he’d been huge in the three races that marked that preparation. 

This time felt different. 

Having trialed the house down in preparation for his return, ‘Arty’ had hardcore harness fans dreaming of days gone by. 

That enthusiasm wasn’t dulled by a first-up effort where circumstances played against him in every way imaginable. 

Then there was the TAB Minuteman Free For All, where post-race tests concluded that ‘Arty’ failed courtesy of a severe respiratory infection. 

Sadly, however, the post-mortem from Saturday night’s TAB Gammalite Free For All was far more worrying. 

In one respect, the fact that there was a reason why Australia’s favourite standardbred performed beneath expectations – even accounting for his early error – was somewhat comforting. 

The revelation that said excuse was a grade four exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage, not so much. 

All we know at this stage is that Lochinvar Art’s dreams of landing a second Vic Cup this term are dashed as he now faces a mandatory 28-day stand-down period from racing.

And there's word from owner Kevin Gordon that he's run his last race in Australia, with retirement or a move to the United States on the table.

All good things must come to an end, but this isn’t the way it should end for Arty.

So, let’s hope it doesn’t.

BRILLIANT young Victorian reinsman James Herbertson has added another accolade to his growing list of personal achievements by claiming the Australian Drivers Championship at Globe Derby Park. 

Herbertson, who represented the Big V alongside former SA local Kate Gath did the damage early, winning his first two drives behind the Shaun Adams-trained Hammers Law and Paul Cavallaro-trained The Sneaky Fox. 

Two further placings secured his success in a championship dominated by rising young stars with Cameron Hart from New South Wales finishing second and Emily Suvaljko from Western Australia finishing third. 

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.