Waikato horsewoman Casey Lock will make a return to the training ranks at Rotorua on Saturday where she will line-up Viktor Vegas in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1215.
Formerly trained by her father, Te Aroha horseman Peter Lock, the gelding came into Casey’s care two years ago when his form tapered off.
Initially set to be her sport horse, the son of Tavistock flourished so well in his time away from racing that she approached breeder-owner Bob Emery to see if he could make a comeback to the track.
“Dad trained him for Bob Emery and he was in and out over COVID (lockdown) and trained off a bit,” Lock said.
“When he came back in he didn’t really perform up to standard, so Bob and Dad agreed that he would be retired and I was lucky enough to be given him as a sport horse.
“He did so well having a break, it’s the longest he has had off his entire career. We did some hunt practice days and fiddled around doing bits and pieces at home like dressage and jumping.
“He turned a corner, grew, and filled out. He looked so well that I rang Bob and asked him if it was possible to give him another go, and he leased him to me as a racing proposition.”
Lock’s judgment was proven right when Viktor Vegas returned to the track last year and posted pleasing results, including a fourth placing behind Cheval Prometteur in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Rotorua last November.
“He was in work with Dad last preparation and he had seven starts for two wins and was fourth in a Group Three, beaten by one length. It was amazing,” Lock said.
“You weren’t going to knock off the likes of Cheval Prometteur and Concert Hall, but he is a very good horse on his day and if everything goes right, he will always be thereabouts. It was a huge run.”
Viktor Vegas was subsequently given to Lock by Emery and she decided to take out her owner-trainer license this year to race the gelding herself.
Lock formerly trained in partnership with her father for four seasons more than a decade ago and she said she is looking forward to having her name back in the racebook on Saturday.
“The nerves have already kicked in, but I am really looking forward to it,” she said.
Viktor Vegas has had one trial leading into Saturday, running third over 1100m at Te Rapa, and Lock expects to see a bit of improvement from her charge this weekend.
“He has won a few trials leading into his races before, but I have kept him a lot fresher than what Dad usually would with him.
“He was a little bit underdone going into that trial, so to see him finish it off the way he did was really nice to see.
“Matty (Cameron, jockey) was really happy with the trial and he knows the horse.”
Viktor Vegas was initially set to kick-off his preparation at Trentham last week, but a stone bruise curtailed those plans.
“We were going to head to Wellington with him last Saturday, but he ended up with a stone bruise on the Monday, so we abandoned those plans,” Lock said.
“I am really happy with him and looking forward to going into Saturday.”
Lock said Saturday’s distance is well short of her gelding’s best and she is looking forward to stepping him out over further ground next season.
“The field is quite a strong 1200m field full of sprinters,” she said. “His best form is 1400m to 2200m. Whatever he does on Saturday he will improve on, but if Viktor turns up he will give that field a run for their money.”
While Lock is hopeful of a good showing on Saturday, one thing is for sure, Viktor Vegas will have the biggest group of supporters cheering him on from Te Aroha hospital.
Lock works at the hospital as a carer and she said the job gives her a lot of satisfaction, with the bonus of working in well around training her small team.
“I work at the hospital in Te Aroha where I look after everyone’s Nanas and Grandads,” Lock said.
“It’s an afternoon job so I get to do all of my horses in the morning, which works in really well.
“The people and residents are amazing, it is very rewarding.
“I would like to think one day good karma will come back to me and I will get looked after just as well as I am looking after them.”
The residents in Lock’s care could have plenty to look forward to in the coming months, with Lock setting her sights high with Viktor Vegas.
“I would like to win the Wellington (Gr.3, 3200m) and Waikato (Gr.3, 2400m) Cups with him, especially the Waikato Cup, he loves Te Rapa,” Lock said.
“He has shown in that Group Three race that he doesn’t need to have a wet track to be up with the best in the country.”
While she has lofty ambitions with her charge, Lock’s attention is currently focussed on Saturday.
“There are a fair few people just as excited as me,” she said.
“Dad is going to be in New Plymouth. It will be strange not having Dad there with me, he has helped me out a lot through everything. But I am really excited about it.”
