IT may be the most defining harness racing in Australia so far this year.
Saturday night’s Gammalite Free-For-All (2240m) at Melton has it all and promises to dramatically reshape markets for the upcoming Victoria Cup and Inter Dominion.
There is one-time megastar Lochinvar Art – at the crossroads in the eyes of many – is drawn best of the big guns and gets his chance to atone for an almost career-worst showing two weeks ago.
The former Victoria and Hunter Cup hero was found to have suffered from a mild bout of equine asthma and given his previous run was most encouraging, it would be bold to judge him too harshly on that last outing.
With driver Nathan Jack committed to glamour Kiwi raider Copy That, Lochinvar Art will need a new driver. Outstanding freelance driver Greg Sugars is favourite to get the gig.
“He’s bounced-back well, but did miss a few days of work so there’s improvement to come from whatever he does this week,” Lochinvar Art’s trainer Rodney Lakey said. “Still, it’s great to finally get a decent draw and I’m sure he’ll still run a terrific race.”
And what about Copy That? He’s on the quick back-up after burning early and stopping sharply late to beat only a couple of rivals home at his first run across from NZ at Melton last Saturday night.
But his master trainer Ray Green is anything but panicking.
“I half expected that (last week),” he said. “He’d been sidelined for 10 months and four months of those were in a box, so he badly needs racing.
“He had a run and then a trial back home, but there’s no substitute for racing and last week really showed that.
“That’s why I decided pretty much straight after last week that I’d change plans and back him up again this week. We just need to get racing and fitness into him before the Victoria Cup (October 8).”
Then there is Bondi Lockdown. When he did a power of work, smashed the clock and ran a stunning second in the Chariots Of Fire in February, many felt he was the next big thing in the sport. Minor hiccups have seen him race just twice since.
“He’s ready to roar,” trainer-driver Aaron Dunn said. “His (recent) trial at Horsham with a galloping pacemaker was fantastic and he’s down to the sort of weight I like him racing at.”
The Victoria Cup flavour extends beyond Melton on Saturday night.
At Sydney’s Menangle track, the hugely talented Expensive Ego returns from a long spell for Team McCarthy.
The five-year-old launches a campaign of redemption after being first past the post but losing last December’s Sydney Inter Dominion final on protest.
“He wasn’t quite the same in a few runs after that, so we turned him out for a long spell,” driver Luke McCarthy said.
“In retrospect, he was only a four-year-old and the four hard runs in a fortnight took plenty out of him.
“But he’s back. The long break has done the trick. His work at home has been as good if not better than ever and his trial the other day was outstanding.”
Expensive Ego is one of three of four Victoria Cup runners Team McCarthy may have.
“He could go straight into the Victoria Cup after this week’s run. We’ve got Spirit Of St Louis ready to go again and Mach Shard will run Saturday week at Menangle.
“Even A Gs White Socks was terrific first-up last week and if he goes really well next start, we might take him down (for the Cup), too.”
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
