Lockwood to launch Attack on the north
TOUGH stayer Art Attack will take the first step towards a northern Cups campaign when he races at Eagle Farm tomorrow.
Art Attack will be having his first start for Brisbane trainer Barry Lockwood in the Cascade Handicap (2200m).
The gelding has been a good performer for Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham, winning seven races and $209,000 prizemoney.
Art Attack was placed at Eagle Farm at his two recent starts and was also placed in the Cessnock Cup and Rosehill Country Classic earlier in his campaign.
Lockwood said Art Attack had recently been bought by one of his stable clients.
“Art Attack will have a couple of starts around here and then head north to Mackay,” Lockwood said.
“The eventual aim is some of the northern Cups which will suit him. They are worth good money this year.”
Art Attack has top weight of 59kg tomorrow but Lockwood has opted to stick with senior jockey Mark Du Plessis.
“Mark has ridden Art Attack at his past two starts and he seems to go best for senior jockeys,” Lockwood said.
Lockwood also has Invincible Gangsta in the Roku Gin Handicap (1200m) as the gelding tries to recapture the form that earned him an Eagle Farm win last year.
“He has been placed on soft going and he has drawn well on Saturday,” he said.
Lockwood has been building up his team in the past month and he won three trials on Tuesday at Eagle Farm including one with twoyear-old Kollur.
“I had some nice horses trial and I do like Kollur. Although his time wasn’t flash it was a good win,” he said.
Eagle Farm was rated in the soft range before the rain yesterday.
The Brisbane Racing Club will inspect the track surface, which dries exceptionally well, before again rating it.
The Doomben twilight meeting yesterday was abandoned after about 60mm drenched the track in three hours.
■ IN Sydney, Cellsabeel retains a firm grip on favouritism for the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) but where tomorrow’s big race will be run remains uncertain.
With heavy rain forecast, stewards will conduct a track inspection at Warwick Farm today to determine if the track surface is suitable for racing. Rosehill is on standby as a replacement venue.