By Adam Hamilton
CLASSY Kiwi pacer Locharburn is heading to NSW to continue his career.
The son of Christian Cullen will be flown to Sydney to join Shane and Lauren Tritton’s stable and be aimed at the Miracle Mile.
Owner-trainer Kevin Chapman said it would be an emotional time when Locharburn left the barn for Sydney on Friday.
“He’s part of the family, but it’s the right thing to do for him. So much work has gone into getting him back from a tendon and a suspensory. He’s really well now, but he can only run in the best races here,” he said.
“He’s also not suited to how the races are run here, just sit-up and sprint home. He can run back-to-back 57sec halves, but not a 59sec and a 54sec.
“He also hates Auckland. I know he’s run some good races there as a younger horse, but he just doesn’t go anywhere near as well the opposite way.”
Chapman said he chose Tritton because of his record rejuvenating older horses the “drop-back” handicapping system at Menangle.
“Shane says they can earn $60,000 a year at Menangle without having to beat the best ones,” Chapman said. “It would be great to see the horse drop back in class and find winning form again.
Tritton can’t wait for Locharburn to join the barn.
“He’s a really serious horse at his top and I reckon he’ll love the Menangle mile racing,” he said.
“It’s a real buzz for us that Kevin’s decided to send him across and give us a go with him.
“He’s a bit like Franco Nelson when he came to us. He’s had his issues, but our system here seems to get the best out of these older horses.
“We’re really looking forward to getting him across and into our system.”
Locharburn’s 39 starts have netted 14 wins, eight seconds a third.
He was a superstar at three, winning the NZ Derby and finishing second to Tiger Tara in the Northern Derby and second to Isaiah in the NZ Sales Series’ final.
As an older horse, Locharburn’s best win came in the 2016 Eastern Cup at Group 1 level, beating Smolda.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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