Full-steam ahead for The Locomotive

An interrupted preparation won’t hinder The Locomotive’s (Muscle Mass) path towards the 2025 Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star.

The 2024 trotting Inter Dominion harness racing champion nominated for races at Shepparton and Menangle, but a lack of numbers caused the races to fall over.

Trainer-driver Brad Hewitt is still unsure on the squaregaiter’s plans heading into the $250,000 event.

“I have nominated him, and the races haven’t stood up and its obviously not the ideal lead-up,” Hewitt said.

“I wanted to start him either last week or this week.

“Another idea was I might take him down to the track and work him between races.”

The Locomotive’s last run was in the ID Final on December 14 and has since come up well according to the NSW horseman.

“He is super and has come up well,” he said.” I am really happy with where he is at and how he is going.

“He would have been hard to beat either this week or last.”

The heats into final run on the same night will suit the four-year-old out of La Coocaracha.

“I reckon he will be fine, he is obviously a stallion and they seem to handle more work in them,” he said.

“It’s one of those things you don’t really know unless you do it , but I that shouldn’t be an issue.”

The Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star is the major trotting feature on Sportsbet A.G Hunter Cup night on February 1.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria