Champ chasing rare Cup double

COMEBACK pacer Lochinvar Art will attempt to join a pair of superstars on Saturday night.

Engaged in the Ballarat Cup, Lochinvar Art will enter the Group One as the reigning champion.

As it stands, only one winner has successfully defended their throne, while only one other campaigner has won the Cup more than once since its inception in 1971.

Injury-plagued star Sinbad Bay was the first dual winner, scoring in 1991 and 1996 with Vin Knight and Stephen Dove in the sulky.

The Mark Purdon-trained Smolda then created history as the first consecutive winner in 2016 and ’17 when driven by Purdon and Anthony Butt.

This year Butt will join forces with Purdon’s trainer-son, Nathan, to partner quality mare Amazing Dream.

As for Lochinvar Art, he has drawn perfectly in the 2170-metre feature in what will be his second run from an 11-month absence.

Runner-up during his racing return in last weekend’s Shepparton Cup, Lochinvar Art will begin from barrier two for trainer-driver, David Moran.

TAB Fixed Odds reacted by listing the millionaire as a $1.90 favourite.

“I was extremely happy with his effort in Shepparton,” Moran said. “He felt great and has improved a heap from the outing.

“Originally I was going to bypass Ballarat and go around next week in Melton, but he has come through the run so well I decided to let him going around again this week instead.

“I’m happy with the draw as it gives me a few options with him, so we’ll just have to see how the field settles early on in the piece.”