Free-For-All shapes as an enthralling event

IT HASN’T delivered the super clash many hoped it would but Saturday night’s Minuteman Free-For-All certainly shapes as an enthralling event.

After months of anticipation, racing enthusiasts were excited by news Ride High and Lochinvar Art will meet at Tabcorp Park Melton during the weekend, only to be teased and denied again.

Ride High’s connections have elected to bypass the feature in preference for next week’s $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint.

With Lochinvar Art unlikely to contest the Group Two according to trainer David Moran, the pair are all but certain to ‘lock horns’ in the Victoria Cup on October 10.

“At this stage I’m not planning to run him in the Smoken Up Sprint,” Moran said.

“He’s likely to have a hard run in the Minuteman Free-For-All and another hard run in the Sprint before a hard run in the Cup, which is not ideal.

“Add the fact he raced in Bendigo last Saturday night when he was four-wide at one point into the death and he’s raced four weeks in a row.

“I’d prefer to keep him fresh in between this weekend and the Cup.”

To be driven by Moran, Lochinvar Art has drawn awkwardly along the second row, with the son of Modern Art to come from barrier 11.

Despite the draw and strength of his opposition, Lochinvar Art is a $1.65 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds.

Zennart and Cruz Bromac are considered the main dangers as the only other runners under double figures at $5.

Zennart will begin from the outside of the front line while Cruz Bromac will join Lochinvar Art on the second row.

“Zennart and Cruz Bromac are two of the main dangers along with Out To Play,” Moran said. “This will be a big test for all of them and we can only hope for a clear run on the night.”