Top pacer ready to return home

Win, lose or draw in the Inter Dominion pacing final, top Victorian horseman David Moran will go home a winner.

Moran is the stand-in driver aboard young buck and Inter Dominion favourite Expensive Ego.

His first goal is to try and negotiate a potentially tricky pole position draw and win the sport’s biggest race.

But his other “prize” of the weekend is getting to drive and then take home his own stable superstar, Lochinvar Art.

Yes, ‘Arty’ is back and not far off a trial.

In a lovely slice of synergy, Expensive Ego’s trainers Belinda and Luke McCarthy have been nursing Lochinvar Art back from a leg injury and standing him at their Cobbitty Equine stud for his first season of stud duties at the same time.

“The scans look great and he’s well down the track in his rehab and fitness,” Moran said.

“I’m actually going to drive him Saturday afternoon before I head to Menangle for the (Inter Dominion) final. I can’t wait to jump behind the boy again.

“I’m taking him home with me (to Shepparton) after the weekend. Luke tells me he’s so fit, he’s only about three weeks away from a trial.”

Lochinvar Art, a rising six-year-old, was Australasia’s champion pacer before a hoof injury became a broader leg issue. He hasn’t raced since winning Victoria’s biggest race, the Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup, at Melton on February 6.

He’s only been beaten once in his past 10 starts and boasts a career record of 50 starts for 28 wins, 19 placings and $1,368,456 in earnings.

Moran said the timing of his return meant a defence of his Hunter Cup title was the first target.

“The timing fits. If he’s trialling in the next three weeks or so, we can get enough racing into him to have a crack at the Hunter Cup,” he said.

“Don’t ask me yet where he’ll run first-up, but there’s lots of options in the country cups through January.

“We need everything to go right. We’ve got this far and all looks great, but this next month is crucial. We can’t afford a hiccup if we want to get to the Hunter Cup.”

Lochinvar Art’s greatness is underlined by the fact he’s beaten King Of Swing at their past two clashes, in the 2020 Victoria Cup and this year’s Hunter Cup.

King Of Swing has since assumed his mantle as Australia’s pacer and looks the horse to beat in Saturday night’s Inter Dominion final at Menangle.

“I can’t help but stop, think and wish at times that ‘Arty’ was in the race this week,” Moran said. “But it’s great he’s so close to being back and hopefully he’s got lots more big races to come.”

By Adam Hamilton