Lochinvar Art draws 4 in Vic Cup

Five Craig Cross runners have drawn the front row but home state favourite Lochinvar Art sits ominiously in gate four after this morning's Prydes EasiFeed Victoria Cup field was drawn on Sky Racing 1 this morning.

The machinations and ramifications only swelled with this morning's draw, in which Balraj drew the prized gate one and stablemates Bling It On (three), Alta Orlando (five), Cash N Flow (six) and King Of Swing (seven) crowded the front row.

They are separated by Terang warrior Code Bailey in two and Lochinvar Art in four who will be flying the Victoria flag, while sit-and-sprint speed machine Code Black looms dangerously inside the back row, a draw that saw shortern in the market to $7.50.

David Moran, trainer-driver of $2.50 favourite Lochinvar Art, joined Sky Racing 1 as part of this morning's Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup Barrier Draw coverage and said it was "always just a great race to be in".

"The draw's probably worked in our favour to a degree, but there are some very nice horses drawn inside us," Moran said. "We'll have to give it our best crack."

As mentioned, Tabcorp Park Menangle flyers Balraj, Cash N Flow and King Of Swing book-end the front row and are likely to bring the heat early.

"Cash N Flow, we know, can burn the gate very very quick, there's a lot of speed there," Moran said.

"You've got Alta Orlando drawn right to (my) outside, you think you can probably hold him being drawn right next to him.

"Cash N Flow one-out (in six) makes it a bit trickier again and obviously you've got King Of Swing in seven. The biggest thing at the start is just to make sure they don't get across you and get that advantage on you.

"If they can't you've got to look to your inside: Code Bailey gets out good, Balraj gets out good. It's definitely not easy."

So can Lochinvar Art hold them and make a play for the lead?

"We've never really had to use (his gate speed) 100 per cent down here, it's just the way the races have panned out, we haven't had to really burn," Moran said. "He can get out very good if you want him too."

Saturday night will be Lochinvar Art's fifth start of the campaign, which have produced three wins and two placings, and Moran said he was "rapt with how he is at the moment".

"He came through the last run really good, probably the best he's ever come through. And his work since then has been good," he said.

"We've adjusted a few little things and got him to where we think he's 100 per cent, so there will be no excuses come this week. The best horse will be there and we'll give it a go."

Here's is your field for Saturday night's 2020 Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup at Tabcorp Park Park: 

1: Balraj

2: Code Bailey

3: Bling It On

4: Lochinvar Art

5: Alta Orlando

6: Cash N Flow

7: King Of Swing

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8: Code Black

9: Rishi

10: Tam Major

11: Hurricane Harley

12: Major Times (emg)

13: Cruz Bromac

HRV – Michael Howard