The Invercargill horseman scored a career highlight when Noble Gamble nosed out Scarlett Lane to take last night’s opening event at Forbury Park.
Although his trotting winner blew punters away with her 31-1 odds, money was the last thing on Lock’s mind after the race.
"This is what racing is. Stake money helps, but it is not everything."
But after he shook hands with a line-up of trainers and drivers wanting to congratulate him on his achievement, the trainer reflected on one reason that made the quinella particularly special.
Noble Gamble was able to win in the colours of Lock’s late friend and stable owner, Chris Eade, of Otautau.
"He is up there watching; it makes it very special.‘‘I don’t know how many horses we raced together. It was so many it’s not funny — Little White Dove was his best one."
"Steph Brayshaw, who is in on the horse — she got the colours and registered them in her name three weeks ago."
Brayshaw helps Lock work his team at Invercargill and she shares in the ownership with the trainer, Diane Toomey, Gordon, Murray and Claire Moreton.
Later in the programme, another Southland trainer produced a 30-1 shot to win.
Driver Nathan Williamson launched Mighty Flying Deal with a big run down the back straight in race 10 the last time and it proved the winning move in as his charge ran away to a 1- length victory for trainer Brett Gray.
Williamson’s father, Phil, trained last night’s final race quinella, after the race was delayed four minutes due to track lighting issues. Rory Mcilwrick steered Pyramid Monarch to victory ahead of her younger half-brother, Pyramid Magic.
- Jonny Turner
