By Matt Markham
Kevin Chapman knows the next week will be just as crucial as the three minutes and 15 seconds it took Locharburn to remind everyone of just how good he is when resuming at Timaru on Saturday.
The former New Zealand Derby winner was first up for over 14 months after suffering a suspensory injury in the lead up to last year’s New Zealand Trotting Cup, but looked more like a horse who had been racing for weeks with a dominant display in the Timaru Summer Cup.
A relieved Chapman, who has allowed the horse to work his way back in his own time, said that while it was great to get the win, ensuring his star pacer comes through the race and recovers was always going to the be bigger picture.
“You just never know after a horse has been out for so long,” Chapman said.
“I came here with no expectations, I just wanted him to run home strongly and pull up well afterwards.
“I tried to be as public as I could about it all too, I told the stipes we weren’t here for a gutbuster or anything like that.
“So at the end of the day the win is a bonus, but the next couple of days will tell the full story.”
As far as race track returns go, things went perfectly to plan for the son of Christian Cullen.
Dexter Dunn managed to get him to begin cleanly from his 30 metre handicap and quickly found the running line with cover.
With few mid-race moves, Dunn was able to bide his time until the 400 metre mark, before unleashing Locharburn three and then four wide.
“I had a wee moment when I first pulled him out because he felt flat,” Dunn said.
“But when I gave him a reminder he hooked into it. He felt big and strong in the run to the line.
“He’s still a bit of a bugger though, he went to pull up and look around when he hit the front.”
Locharburn stopped the clock in 3.15.7 – setting a new Timaru track record for a 2600 metre stand in the process.
The previous record of 3.16.5 was held by ironhorse Eastwood Jaunty.
\Chapman has made his intentions clear with Locharburn and has an eye on the Ashburton Cup on Boxing Day as the next major assignment.
His return will be a welcome boost to the open class pacing ranks and is sure to add a bit of spark to open class feature later on in the season.
He footed it with, and was as good, if not a little better, than Tiger Tara who won last week’s New Zealand Free-For-All.An in-form Tango’s Delight was the best of the beaten brigade yesterday, continuing her great run of form for Gavin Smith and Ronnie Dawe.
Cullect A Guiness showed he is going to be a player in Country Cup features over the summer with a tough run for third after sitting parked early in the hands of Matt Purvis.
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