The trainer-driver of arguably Australasia's best pacer has eyes firmly focused on landing his first win in the time-honoured Ballarat Pacing Cup.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
David Moran has again reiterated his desire to bring multiple group 1-winning entire Lochinvar Art to Bray Raceway for the $110,000 feature on January 23.
Lochinvar Art will run a warm favourite in this weekend's Shepparton Gold Cup after opening $1.10 on Tuesday and then plot a path towards Ballarat seven days later.
Moran said the Ballarat Pacing Cup would likely be a serious test for his four-year-old.
"It's going to be a lot stronger. You're going to get (Bendigo Cup winner) Wolf Stride and them sort of horses and depending on the border situation, whether you get King Of Swing or not, I'm not 100 per cent sure," he told The Courier.
"But you're going to run into a fair few more nicer ones."
Following Ballarat, Moran said the plan was to then head towards the $500,000 AG Hunter Cup at Melton on February 6 and then tackle a NSW campaign that would include the $100,000 Newcastle Mile on February 19 and $1million Miracle Mile on March 6.
Moran said the horse appeared to have pulled up well from his devastating win in the group 1 Vicbred Super Series (4YO Entires and Gelding) Final on December 31.
"We got him all injected up and whatever we needed to do and he seems good," Moran, who is based in Kialla, said.
Moran said the Vicbred win was one of the horse's best career efforts.
"His Miracle Mile, Chariots and Bonanza (runs) and that were exceptional, but the way he done it was real good. Probably the best way that he'd ever done it," he said.
"I know he didn't have the hardest of runs and found the front, but to run away from them the way he did in second gear was pretty good."
The Ballarat Pacing Cup will be the first night of Harness Racing Victoria's Summer of Glory Carnival, which culminates with the Hunter Cup.
HRV will combine with the Ballarat and District Trotting Club to launch the carnival at Bray Raceway next Monday.
The BDTC has reiterated that all patrons need to purchase a ticket via the club website before attending the meeting on January 23 due to state government event restrictions.