Lochinvar right on target, but Cruz Bromac in limbo

By Adam Hamilton

LOCHINVAR Art is right where he needs to be for the $300,000 Victoria Cup on October 10.

So trainer-driver David Moran looks set to skip next Saturday’s $50,000 Group 2 Smoken Up Sprint (1720m) at Melton and go straight into the Victoria Cup a week later.

In a race run to suit a lot more than his recent runs, Lochinvar Art relished it and thrashed his rivals in last night’s Minuteman free-for-all (2240m) at Tabcorp Park Melton.

He did his share of work at times, but just looked to do it so easily and in quick time.

“He’s pretty much right where I want him now. He really just jogged that in tonight,” Moran said. “I’m leaning very heavily towards not running next week. I don’t think he’s needs another run.”

So what about Ride High?

With the camp bunkering-down since he was pulled out of the nominations and skipped the Minuteman free-for-all, we just hope all is well and he will tackle the Smoken Up this week.

If he’s not in this week, it would mean four weeks between runs going into what shapes as an epic Victoria Cup.

The spotlight will be on the Smoken Up field when it comes out around 1.30pm NZ time Tuesday.

If Ride High is there, it could be his for the taking with no new stars expected in the sprint.

Craig Cross’ big guns – Balraj, Cash N Flow, Alta Orlando and Bling It On - will go straight to the Victoria Cup.

The only “new” runner he’s likely to have in the Smoken Up Sprint is renowned speedster Cruz, who has been freshened since a successful recent Queensland raid.

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CRUZ Bromac’s NZ Cup title defence looks unlikely after a disappointing comeback run against Lochinvar Art last night.

Having his first run since the Auckland Cup last New Year’s Eve, Cruz Bromac made a midrace move around the field to find the lead, but was beaten before the final bend and tired to finish 30.3m behind Lochinvar Art in eighth spot.

No doubt he’ll be improved by the run, but he’s a nine-year-old (NZ time) and it’s a big call to send him back across the Tasman unless he jumps out of the ground when/if he runs next, which would likely be in the Victoria Cup on October 10.