Freakish Talent Set For Richmond Debut

GROUP 1 winning trainer Robert Smith admits he's heading to Richmond on Wednesday afternoon not really sure what his exciting juvenile Lochinvar Chase is capable of.

Last Wednesday, the 18-month old son of Barcia Bale and Elcee Jay was the talk of the greyhound racing world, stopping the clock in a near record 18.47 in a 330-metre performance trial, just 1 ½ lengths outside the 18.36 track record posted by Caviar Quality a week earlier.

"I'd got his papers on the Friday and nominated for the performance trial on the Monday – last Wednesday was the first time he'd been with another dog," enthused Smith.

"I threw him in at the deep end and to be honest I didn't think he'd go as quick as he did at his first look at Richmond, everything was a first for him actually.

“I couldn't tell you the last time I raced a dog over 300 yards but he's too young to work up to 500 at the moment … he's only 18 months old and been out of a box four times."

Drawn box three in the fourth event at Richmond on Wednesday, a heat of the Bernipave Maiden Series (330m), Smith told the Recorder he struggles to put a ceiling on the hugely talented youngster given just how untapped he is.

"It's hard to say how good he could be or where he rates with others we've had because every-time I go to the track with him he improves," explained Smith.

"He's had a box-to-box at The Gardens and broken five early and he went 9.93 for the first split at Gosford. He's got a heap of pace but I can't see 500 metres being a problem either. He pulls up fantastic from trials and the line is very strong as well – he has a great constitution."

 

Whelped in January 2018, Lochinvar Chase's dam, Elcee Jay, is a daughter of Collision and grand producer Lochinvar Vogue whose progeny have won 244 races and almost $750,000 in prizemoney.

"It's a big thing to say but off what he ran the other day it wouldn't surprise me if he ran 18.20 odd in a months' time there," declared Smith.

"I don't like looking past tomorrow but if everything goes to plan, a race like the (Group 1) Derby at Wentworth Park next January looks suitable for him – he'll only have just turned two then."

Wednesday's debut by Lochinvar Chase marks Smith's first runner since exciting type Lochinvar Dynamo broke a hock when a short-priced favourite at Ladbrokes Gardens on March 30, the son of Magic Sprite now on the comeback trail. 

"I can't fault the dog but he's still got to go on with it," added Smith.

"He'll have a few starts over the 300 and then I'll work him up to the 500 – I want to keep him away from the bend start 400's if I can."

Such was the impression created by Lochinvar Chase's performance trial last week, wagering giant Sportsbet included the prodigious talent at $81.00 in the all-in market for October's TAB Million Dollar Chase, unprecedented given he's yet to even face the starter.

And for those of the belief that his name Lochinvar Chase is tied in with a potential tilt at NSW's Million Dollar event … think again.

"He's named after Chase from the cartoon Paw Patrol," said owner Kevin Gordon.

"I've never heard of it but the grand-kids love the show and they named him after one of the characters!"