Inter Dominion the aim for seven-time Group 1 winner

Lochinvar Art is back in work and sights are set firmly on the Inter Dominion Championships here in his own backyard of Victoria at the end of the year.

The seven-time harness racing Group 1 winner was spelled following his fifth placing in the Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup in February and has been working under the care of new trainer Rodney Lakey for the past four weeks or so.

Owner Kevin Gordon told thetrots.com.au that Lochinvar Art’s last preparation was somewhat rushed, with his first-up run in the Shepparton Gold Cup arriving a little soon for the son of Modern Art following his return from injury rehabilitation and pre-training with Luke and Belinda McCarthy in Sydney.

Despite that, he ran an admirable second to Spirit Of St Louis in his hometown feature first-up from nearly a year on the sidelines and then chased home the same horse in the Ballarat Pacing Cup a week later.

He then tackled the Hunter Cup and was beaten into fifth by King Of Swing before stumps were pulled on his campaign.

Gordon said the now six-year-old was better served when he could endure a slow and steady preparation, which was the aim this time in.

“He’s sound as a bell, jogging along and the only issue is that he’s keen to go a bit quicker and we don’t want him to go quicker yet,” Gordon said.

“We have no concerns that he won’t come back every little bit as good as he was.”

Gordon said the 2022 Queensland winter carnival had been discussed, but felt it was unlikely and that Lochinvar Art would just have a few Victorian lead-up runs before the Inter series.

Heats for this year’s Inter Dominion Championships will be held at Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong before the grand finals at Melton on December 10.

Lochinvar Art has won 28 of 53 career starts for more than $1.4 million prizemoney.

by Tim O’Connor for HRV