LOCHINVAR ART’S got that rare magical mix harness racing so badly needs.

He’s not just a superstar pacer, some would say already deserved of the “champion” tag, but he’s got charisma. In the words of trainer-driver David Moran, he’s quickly become a people's horse.

And Moran is such a big part of that with his refreshingly open-book and can-do attitude to any and every media request.

It was wonderful watching so many of the COVID restricted crowd at Melton line the fence after Lochinvar Art’s latest big win, the biggest of his career so far, in Saturday night’s Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup at Melton.

Moran soaked it up and walked along the fence to make everyone feel part of it.

The package that is Lochinvar Art has cut-through. Thoroughbred fans are taking notice, so too is the broader sporting world.

He’s the pin-up horse harness racing can really ride on.

Lochinvar Ar’s powerhouse Hunter Cup win was his sixth Group 1 victory in the past 13 months and he’s got another two he’s expected to win in the next month.

The Arty Party is in full swing and now heads to owner-breeder Kevin Gordon’s hometown for the Group 1 Newcastle Mile on Friday week.

Then it’s to Menangle on March 6 to try and go one better than he did last year in the $1 million Miracle Mile.

TAB slashed his Miracle Mile odds from $2.20 to $1.70 after his Hunter Cup victory.

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IN THE aftermath to TORNADO VALLEY’S remarkable Great Southern Star win, champion trainer Tim Butt summed it up the best.

Butt, who has trained some of the great modern champs like LYELL CREEK, TAKE A MOMENT and MR FEELGOOD, tweeted: “You’ve been good all your life and then moments like these define your career. Kudos to Andy and Kate and the team.”

It’s so true.

Andy Gath’s been a great trainer for a long time and Kate’s CV is stunning, but that three hours at Melton last Friday night will define them both for the rest of their careers.

Just six weeks earlier they were both almost resigned to retiring Tornado Valley after a lacklustre trial followed a previous campaign where he looked a shadow of himself.

Kate suggested – in effectively a desperate “last straw” move – to try interval training with the nine-year-old former Inter Dominion champion.

It’s now history he only forced his way into the Great Southern Star with a stunning workout at home five days before the series.

First-up since October 10, last year, Tornado Valley came out and downed the raging hot favourite MAJESTIC MAN and smashed the track record as well.

Then, just to underline his greatness, about 2.5 hours later he did what he’s done so many times before, he found a way to win again and post the 10th Group 1 victory of his 101-start career in the Great Southern Star final.

Andy was moved to call him just the second champion he’s trained, LA COOCARACHA being the other.

And Kate said Tornado Valley was a “one in a million” horse and the package of the against-the-odds heat and final win ranked right up with her 2006 Hunter Cup win on About To Rock as a 23-year-old as the greatest moment of her career.

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THE Chariots Of Fire picture isn’t much clearer after two key qualifiers last weekend.

Melton’s 4YO Bonanza has been the ultimate formline in recent years with the past four winners going on to win the Chariots – LAZARUS, JILLIBY KUNG FU, POSTER BOY and LOCHINVAR ART.

Anthony Butt’s emerging BOOTS ELECTRIC scored an upset win this year, leaving horses like PACIFICO DREAM, EXPENSIVE EGO, KOWALSKI ANALYSIS and PERFECT STRIDE needing to rush to Sydney for the last qualifier, the Paleface Adios, at Menangle next Saturday night.

At Menangle, ZEUSS BROMAC booked his spot in the Chariots with a 1min 50.9sec win in the Hondo Grattan. The next three home – STYLISH MEMPHIS, JAY OK and CRUNCH TIME – also qualified.

The key runner yet to try and qualify is former Kiwi and now Queensland-based ONE CHANGE, who heads down for what will be a very strong Paleface Adios at Menangle on Saturday night.

His stablemate, TURN IT UP, will come down with him to prepare for a clash with Lochinvar Art in the Newcastle Mile.

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