“Artie” warms up in nice fashion

Harness racing superstar Lochinvar Art had little more than a nice little pipe-opener in his final hit-out before the first assignment on his long-awaited comeback to racing from injury.

The Kialla-based pacer will face a crack field when he attempts to go back-to-back in his hometown feature, the Shepparton Gold Cup, on Saturday night – but last night trainer David Moran pencilled in a final workout at the Shepparton trials.

“Artie” worked to the lead and was held together over a slick final lap, to hit the line with plenty in hand, alongside the smart Max Delight (David Aiken). Click here to watch the replay.

“Artie”, a 28-times winner, has finished out of a place only three times in his 50-start career, and was considered Australasia’s best before a hoof and leg injury on the eve of an attempt on the Newcastle Mile-Miracle Mile double nearly 12 months ago.

He’s undergone rehabilitation at the elite NSW Cobbitty Farms establishment of Belinda and Luke McCarthy, while standing his initial season at stud.

But the comeback to racing was always on the radar – and Saturday’s night’s Shepparton Gold Cup, where Artie faces a wide front-row draw in barrier seven, will be compulsory viewing for harness racing fans.