Lockwood draws a line through Battlefield failure

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Barry Lockwood is overlooking Battlefield's first up failure last month and is hopeful the gelding can rediscover his best form at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

A son of Deep Field, Battlefield was well supported when he resumed in a 1000-metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm on December 28 but was never a hope beating one home behind Steady Ready.

It was Battlefield's fourth defeat in as many starts first-up but he has a much stronger second up record with a win and a second from three starts. 

Lockwood, who has Give Me Space chasing Magic Millions Guineas glory at the Gold Coast Guineas on Friday night, expects a better performance when Battlefield tackles the Class Six Plate over 1400 metres.

“He was well backed last start but Steady Ready broke the track record and smashed 56 seconds,” Lockwood said.

“He got back and there was no way he could run those sorts of times.

“It happened to him the last time he raced over 1000 metres and he came out and won his next start at Toowoomba.”

Lockwood is a minor shareholder in Battlefield after buying him for $42,500 at an online auction after he had seven starts for champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller and Matthew Vella.

“He had heart arrythmia after his last run in Sydney for Matthew Vella which is why he wasn’t sold to Hong Kong,” he said.

“We had an offer about 10 times what we paid for him but it never eventuated as Hong Kong don’t allow horses to race over there if they’ve had a problem like heart arrhythmia.

“It happens it a lot of horses, but it doesn’t affect them long term.”

Eagle Farm is in the soft range but Lockwood is unconcerned about track conditions.

“He’s won on a heavy track so I’m not worried if its wet,” Lockwood said.

Lockwood shares in the gelding’s ownership with prominent owner Mike Buys who has been a long-time client since Lockwood trained in Sydney.

Some of his cousins from Tamworth also are co-owners as members of Longneck Thoroughbreds.

“He’s going well and this is a more suitable race for him over 1400m metres,” Lockwood said.

“He’ll have more time to pick them up in this.”

Lockwood plans to give Battlefield a few more starts this campaign before giving him a short break to prepare for the second-tier races during the Queensland Racing Carnival.