Lochinvar Art a non-starter for New Zealand Cup

by Adam Hamilton

There will be no New Zealand Cup raid for superstar Aussie pacer Lochinvar Art.

In fact, there will be no more racing Down Under at all for the sport’s former pin-up pacer.

Owner Kevin Gordon revealed Lochinvar Art had run his last race in Australia and possibly full stop.

The shock announcement came days after the former Victoria and Hunter Cup winner was found to have suffered a “minor bleed” and stood down for 28 days after the Gammalite free-for-all won by Kiwi superstar Copy That at Melton last Saturday night.

“There’s only two options as far as I’m concerned,” Gordon said. “Retire him or send him to the US. He’s had a bleed now and even though you can treat him, you can’t race him properly here anymore.

“We have to do what’s right for the horse now, he’s been too good to us.

“I simply won’t degrade him and run him in lesser races here.

“It’s all pretty raw at the moment. I’m gutted, David (Moran, trainer-driver) is gutted. We spoke and decided to let the dust settle and make a final decision in a couple of days.”

It’s a huge blow to Moran, who has just returned from a lengthy suspension and was hoping to resurrect Lochinvar Art for the Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile.

Lochinvar Art was one of four Australians nominated for the New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 8. He was rated sixth in the initial rankings list.   

“It’s a very emotional time for us all, but especially David. He’s made this horse, together they’ve gone from zero to hero.

“David’s had the horse since he was a yearling and done everything with him. I’m gutted, but I know however I feel, David would feel worse.”

The North American option is very real and viable because the rules differ over there and many horses races on an anti-bleeding agent called Lasix.

“He could race as normal over there, but he would be very limited if we kept going with him here,” Gordon said.

It is understood former Aussie horseman Shane Tritton, who is now based in the US, is front-runner to get Lochinvar Art should he move to the US.

Lochinvar Art has raced 56 times for 28 wins, 22 placings and banked $1,405,516.

He was sidelined by a hoof injury which became a serious leg injury after winning the Hunter Cup in February, last year.

Lochinvar Art has been winless in six comeback runs across two different campaigns since.

There was a six-month phase in late 2020 and early 2021 where Lochinvar Art was almost unbeatable. He raced 10 times for nine wins and second with the wins including the Victoria and Hunter Cups.

He was unquestionably the best pacer in this part of the world at the time.

 

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