Lockwood looking to maintain strong form

By Glenn Davis

In-form trainer Barry Lockwood has a winning strike rate of almost one in every three starters this season and is hopeful the trend continues at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Lockwood notched up his ninth win of the season from only 28 starters when former Sydneysider Battlefield won on a heavy track at Toowoomba on Saturday.

The win took the larrikin trainer’s strike rate to 32.1 per cent from a stable of 20 in work.

The 71-year-old has fought off a series of health battles in recent times and will saddle up four starters at Eagle Farm.

His first starter will be the unbeaten Flying Aurelius - a James Orman mount - in the Class 1 Plate followed by last start winner It’s Raining Again in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1000 metres.

Completing his quartet of runners will be Striking Plains and Lovewillcomelater in the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1400 metres.

Lockwood has given punters a lead with his preference for Flying Aurelius and It’s Raining Again as the pick of his quartet.

Flying Aurelius was bred by Brisbane-based Greg Pease who raced many horses with former Brisbane trainer Barry Baldwin before his retirement.

“He’s a four-year-old who won his only start quite well at the Gold Coast,” Lockwood said.

“Greg breeds a lot of horses and raced them with Barry Baldwin but he moved to me once Barry retired.

“He was entitled to win at the Gold Coast as he nearly fell at the start and then he was carted wide.

“He’s had a barrier trial since and went well so the plan is to go through the grades with him to open company.”

It’s Raining Again is coming off a last start win over 1110 metres at Doomben on September 18.

“He’s won three of his 13 starts and this looks a suitable race,” Lockwood said.

“He got a nice sit behind the leaders last start and showed good acceleration to win well.”

Although Lockwood preferred Flying Aurelius and It’s Raining Again, he hasn’t ruled out Striking Plains and Lovewillcomelater as strong hopes when the pair clash over 1400 metres.

“Lovewillcomelater is going to be a nice horse but he’s still a year away and will be hard to beat and Striking Plains is not far off after just coming back after a year off,” he said.