Gymkhana Ribbons and a Group Race Win!

Media Release - Monday December 12

Not many thoroughbreds can combine equestrian with racing at the same time - In the space of a week Casey Lock went from winning ribbons with Viktor Vegas at a Cambridge show to winning the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa.

Casey Lock with Viktor Vegas and his ribbon haul at a Leamington Show earlier this month.

“Last Sunday, I took him to Leamington where they had an adults ribbon day. We had a go at every class from flatwork through to jumping in the second half of the programme,” Lock said.

“We came home with a first, second, third and a fifth – it was great.

“It is the first competition I have done since I was a kid on my pony.”

Operating a small stable, Lock believes variety is key to reinvigorating her team, and it has worked wonders for her pride and joy Viktor Vegas, with the son of Tavistock having found a new lease on life after being retired a few years ago to become the Te Aroha trainer’s sport horse.

He did so well in her care that he was brought back into work and was initially leased to Lock by breeder-owner Bob Emery before he gifted her the horse.

The pair have subsequently had a dream run, with Vicktor Vegas running in the money in all but one of his seven starts for Lock, including two victories and a placing in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).

Advertisement

Viktor Vegas wins the G3 Waikato Cup - image Trish Dunell

Saturday’s Group Three triumph was the icing on the cake for Lock, who is looking to continue her varied training routine with her evergreen galloper.

“There is another one (ribbon day) coming up at Te Aroha in a couple of weeks’ time that we will have a go at, which will lead into the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m),” Lock said.

“It’s nothing too serious, it’s just so we can have some fun and it is something different for him.

“They will go around the track, we have got a treadmill, they go swimming at Matamata. No two days are the same, they are always doing something different. I think it is hugely important that they just don’t go around in circles all of the time.”

Lock wasn’t the only member of her family celebrating success at Te Rapa on Saturday, with her father, Peter, taking out the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) with Faithful Feat.

“It was huge, you couldn’t ask for a better day,” Lock said.

“We go into every race meeting being the underdogs as the small fish. Here we are with our two little horses against all of these big names, it was just incredible to get those results.”

Lock is excited for the future with her boutique stable and is hoping to add some numbers to her barn in the coming months.

“I have got his (Viktor Vegas) half-sister by Churchill who has just gone to the paddock,” Lock said.

“She has had a few issues and she is going to have a good, long break. The family takes a bit of time, so I am not worried about her.

“There are a couple at the yearling sales that I am quite interested in, but my forte is horses that don’t like big stables and want something different with their work.

“If anyone is out there that has got some older horses that want something different, I am open to them.”

In the meantime, Lock is looking forward to campaigning Viktor Vegas around the country in her signature pink ensemble.

“You’ll definitely see me before you hear me,” Lock quipped.

Casey Lock arriving on course at Te Rapa last Saturday with Viktor Vegas. Photo: Trish Dunell

Viktor Vegas has a half– brother by Super Seth to be offfered by Woburn Farm as Lot 444 at Karaka Book 1- NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.