Superstar pacer recovering

Superstar pacer Lochinvar Art (Modern Art) is recovering from another significant injury setback, but harness racing’s Melbourne Inter Dominion still remains his target.

The one-time toast of Australasian pacing pulled a shoe and was forced into a plaster cast for several weeks.

Caretaker trainer Rodney Lakey is only now starting to get Lochinvar Art close to doing pace work again.

“He cut his foot, right up in the bulb of the heel,” Lakey said. “It was crucial to protect the area so they put him in a plaster cast and he was boxed for six weeks.

“He’s really only been jogging since and is just moving up to some pace work now.

“He would be about two-and-a-half months away from a trial.”

That timing still makes the Victoria Cup in October an option, but Lakey stressed Lochinvar Art would not be rushed at any stage.

Lochinvar Art showed glimpses of his best in a rushed comeback campaign from his serious leg injuries earlier this year, but then trainer-driver David Moran felt he wasn’t quite the horse he could be and opted for a long spell rather than a Miracle Mile tilt.

In other stable news, Lakey is thrilled with the progress of former NSW Derby winner Patsbeachstorm.

“His lost his way for a while, but he’s come back like the horse he looked like being after he won the Derby,” he said.

“He’s about ready to race and if he goes as well as we expect, we might even chase a Rising Sun start with him.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Newscorp