Inter Dominion favourite an outside hope to make it

The 2021 Inter Dominion Championships might not be completely off the radar for Lochinvar Art, with reinsman David Moran giving the harness racing star an “outside hope” of reaching the time-honoured series.

Moran said he was pleased with how the seven-time Group 1 winner was progressing in his comeback from foot and leg issues, which have forced him away from the racetrack since winning the $500,000 Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup at Tabcorp Park Melton on February 6.

“He looks good and seems good and all that sort of stuff,” Moran, whose partner Kasey Kent now trains the horse, said.

“I’ll get him in on the 25^th of July and just give him a week at home, clean him up and what not and then take him to Sydney.”

In New South Wales, he will stay at Cobbitty Equine Farm to prepare for a return to the racetrack as well as commence a breeding career.

Moran said Lochinvar Art would remain there with Luke and Belinda McCarthy until December, unless a tilt at the Inter Dominion Championships is on the cards.

“(If) he looks like he’s going to make the Inter, then I’ll leave him there and I’ll just go up there and stay up there for a month,” Moran, from Lemnos near Shepparton, said.

“Otherwise, he’ll come back to me in December.”

The 2021 Inter Dominion Championships kick-off with the opening round of heats at Tabcorp Park Menangle on November 27, with the final scheduled for December 11 at the same track.

“He’s definitely an outside hope,” Moran said.

“You might get two trials into him and then you would want to probably give him that week break before you lead in to your first heat.

“He’d be touch and go, but it’s just going to depend on how he comes up more than anything.”

Despite being no certainty to take his place in the series, Lochinvar Art remains a $3 pre-nom favourite for the 2021 Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final with the TAB.

By Tim O’Connor for HRV