ONE look at Saturday night’s Melton meeting will cure any winter blues you may have.
In a glorious and unexpected twist, two of the best and most exciting pacers in Victoria – even Australia for that matter – make their return to racing on Saturday night.
Former Hunter and Victoria Cup winner Lochinvar Art resumes in race seven, the My Lightning Blue Free-For-All (2240m).
While Andy Gath’s freakish three-year-old Catch A Wave, a winner of nine of his 10 starts, returns from a spell in the third event, a heat of the Vicbred Championship.
Lochinvar Art, given where his career is at the mega races ahead for him in the coming months, trumps Catch A Wave.
It will be Lochinvar Art’s first start since finishing fifth behind then arch-rival King Of Swing in the Hunter Cup at Melton on February 5. It’s the only time in three clashes King Of Swing beat Lochinvar Art.
That run came at the end of a three-start comeback campaign from a hoof and leg injury and Lochinvar Art was solid, but nowhere near his best through that mini campaign.
Before injury, Lochinvar Art was the best pacer in this part of the world, underlined by his powerhouse wins in the 2020 Victoria Cup and 2021 Hunter Cup (beating King Of Swing in both).
“Arty” had won 10 of his previous 11 starts before being struck-down by injury.
Caretaker trainer Rodney Lakey insists the “old Arty” is back, judging by his trackwork and the second of his two recent trials.
“He feels very sharp and that’s what was missing last campaign,” he said.
Nathan Jack will take the reins on Lochinvar Art this week and probably for at least one more race before regular trainer-driver David Moran returns from suspension on September 15.
This week is a launching pad, but there will still be close scrutiny on Lochinvar Art with targets like the Victoria Cup (October 8), NZ Cup (November 8) and Victoria’s Inter Dominion series (starting on November 26) looming large.
Trainer Andy Gath surprised by opting to run Catch A Wave this week, propelled to do so by his sparkling Melton trial win last Monday week.
“There’s a nice $40,000 race for him at the end of the month, but we saw this series and thought it not only suited him, but could be good for his development,” Gath said.
“He’s taking on older horses, but we knew he’d draw the back row and the most important things for him now are learning some ringcraft and settling better in his races.
“This week and the final week a week after will be good learning curves for him.
“As good as he is, and we know he’s a special talent, he’s got to become more of a complete race horse for when he takes on the likes of Leap To Fame, Akuta and others in the big races coming up.”
Catch A Wave is a league above his rivals on talent this week, but luck will be crucial from inside the back row (gate eight).
“It’s never easy from tricky draws at Melton, but it’ll be a good experience for him and that’s just what he needs,” Gath said.
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
