No Inter or Cup defence for injured star

RECENTLY-CROWNED Victorian Horse of the Year Lochinvar Art will not race again this season.

Lochinvar Art was first sidelined due to a hoof injury after pulling a shoe and standing on a nail just hours before his scheduled appearance in the Newcastle Mile in February.

The injury ruled him out of the Miracle Mile a few weeks later, for which he was pre-draw favourite.

Connections originally hoped to have the last start A G Hunter Cup winner ready to defend his Victoria Cup title in October, however, his comeback was hampered by a broken hind cannon bone.

With the healing process taking longer than anticipated, David Moran reported Lochinvar Art will not only miss the Cup, but the Inter Dominion.

The time-honoured series is scheduled to begin with heats at Club Menangle on November 27.

“The cannon bone is not coming along as quickly as we would have liked,” Moran said. “He needs at least another two months away from the training track, which means he won’t race again this season.

“He will continue to swim and move on the water walker, but that’s about it.

“At this stage we are hoping to have him ready for the Hunter Cup in February.”

While on the sidelines Lochinvar Art is standing at Cobbitty Farm in New South Wales where he has already attracted “a respectable book of mares so far”.