NZ HARNESS NEWS
The career of outstanding pacer Locharburn is back on ice again.
The former New Zealand Derby winner was set to race at Addington last week but another injury has struck the troubled gelding and he won’t be seen again until well into the New Year.
The latest injury only further adds to the frustration for the pacer’s trainer, Kevin Chapman who has put plenty of man hours into rehabilitating the horse from previous injuries.
“Just when we thought we were getting back on track, something else strikes,” Chapman lamented.
“And it’s not an old injury, it’s a new one higher up on the tendon.
“Luckily it’s not a big issue but it’s enough to not want to put any extra pressure on him at this stage.”
Locharburn hasn’t raced since April of this year, when he finished fifth in the Gordon Roxburgh Free-For-All behind Lazarus.
But he had been enjoying a good build up to a return to the track before the latest injury struck.
He’s on ice now until the middle of January, when the picture will be a lot clearer as to what Chapman is dealing with.
“He’ll be scanned again a couple of weeks into the New Year and we can then make a decision whether we press on with the plans or back right off again.
“He’s a seven-year-old now, but he’s still reasonably lightly raced so time isn’t an issue yet.
“On what he was feeling like at home, the power is still there.”
A winner of 14 races and close to $400,000 in stakes, Locharburn’s return to the open class pacing ranks would be a welcome one at any point in the season.
And, although it’s too early to clearly determine the seriousness of the injury, Chapman gave the impression that if everything went well that the Easter Cup could be an initial target once they are back on deck.
NZ Harness News
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