Barry Lockwood striking well at favoured track

By Glenn Davis

When it comes to metropolitan strike rates, Eagle Farm trainer Barry Lockwood is up with the best.

Lockwood heads to Doomben on Wednesday with four starters and rates Evocator in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1350 metres and Happisburgh in the Class 2 Handicap over 1650 metres as his best hopes of continuing his great recent form.

Lockwood has a near 23 per cent winning strike rate this season with 13 wins from his almost 60 starters and Doomben has been his favoured track for winners.

From his last 50 starters, Lockwood has been in the winner’s stall 13 times.

He currently is in the top 10 trainers in the Brisbane trainer’s premiership with eight wins from a stable of 22 in work.

Evocator was an Eagle Farm winner three starts back in September and is coming off a last start second to the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Corfe Castle in a 1400 metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm on October 21.

Jockey Martin Harley fired in a protest against the winner but it was dismissed by stewards.

“I thought he should have won last start when we protested,” Lockwood said.

“We’re just going through the grades with him and he should run very well again.”

In his last four starts, stable mate Happisburgh has won twice - at Beaudesert and Ipswich - before hitting the line strongly for third to the Chris Munce-trained Sea Ripple in a 1600 metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm on November 7.

“Happisburgh is racing consistently and has won twice and placed twice from his past four starts,” Lockwood said.

“This looks a suitable race for him and it’s taken time for him to find form again after having 12 months off with a suspensory problem.”

Respected as one of the best conditioners, particularly with tried horses, Lockwood has bounced back from a long health battle.

He had radiation therapy for cancer of the face and was given the all clear by doctors a few months ago and is now doing what he does best – training winners.

“I regular check-ups now and everything is fine again,” Lockwood said.