Golden ticket helps relieve pressure

WITH a berth in next month’s Chariots Of Fire guaranteed, the pressure is off.

That’s how trainer David Moran described the feeling of having Lochinvar Art qualified for the Group One.

Australia’s premier four-year-old event, the Chariots Of Fire is scheduled to be conducted at Tabcorp Park Menangle on February 22.

Lochinvar Art sealed his position in the field by capturing the Four-Year-Old Bonanza in Melton just moments ago.

“Obviously the Chariots is a race we’ve been aiming at so to know he is now in the field relieves a lot of the pressure,” Moran said.

“Now I can be a little more flexible in picking his lead-up races rather than having to be in one of the qualifying races closer to the Chariots.

“Having that wiggle room, or freedom, enables you to set out a program that much easier.

“I’m not sure where I will race him next, but with the Chariots a month away I do want to give him a run in between.”

With Moran in cart, Lochinvar Art produced a phenomenal performance to score by four-and-a-half metres from Self Assured, with Hurricane Harley 23-and-a-half metres away third.

“I was confident in his chances before the race and that confidence grew as we went along,” Moran said. “He was travelling so well all the way and still had some left in the tank at the finish.

“To think that was just his third run from a spell and he will be better again for it.

“With another run under his belt he will be right at his peak for the Chariots.”

Slashing 2.1 seconds off the 1720-metre track record with his 1:48.6 performance, the son of Modern Art extended his record to 14 wins and 15 placings from 31 starts for earnings of $393,296.