Country life has rejuvenated Lockmar but Wagga Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland is hoping the veteran galloper still has an affinity for Sydney’s Rosehill racetrack.
Broken in by Sutherland but trained out of Rosehill until he lost form last year, Lockmar returns on a winning streak on Saturday.
The seven-year-old has collected three wins in four starts for Sutherland, a respected horseman who is making an impact on this season’s NSW country trainers’ premiership.
“He loves Rosehill and I thought going back there with him might work,” Sutherland, who educates a lot of Gai Waterhouse’s team, said.
Lockmar scored at $51 at Rosehill win last February beating the well-performed Waterhouse galloper King Lionheart.
Sutherland thinks the horse is close to that form again after a determined victory in the Ted Ryder Cup at Wagga Wagga.
“He was dominant and strong in the race and the form out of it has been confirmed,” he said.
“On that he deserves an opportunity in Sydney.”
Sutherland is working the same angle with Yusuke Ichikawa, the three-kilogram claiming apprentice indentured to Rosehill trainer Con Karakatsanis who has ridden Lockmar to successive wins.
“I reckon he’s one of best apprentices in Australia,” Sutherland said.
“He’s strong and he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”
Sutherland, who is running a close second in the NSW bush trainers’ title, will be making his first trip to Sydney this season.
He is doubling his chances of getting a result with Ambergris, a last-start 1400m winner in track record record time at Canberra, also making the trip.
“She’s an old Darley mare who we picked up after she won two races and now she’s won nine,” Sutherland said.
“I’m happy to be bringing her along because she was very impressive at Canberra.”
Ichikawa, out to break his duck in town, will also ride Ambergris.
AAP TURF
