Parental pride as Casey Locks in a huge family day

Parental pride reached bursting point at Te Rapa last Saturday when young trainer Casey Lock capped a huge day for her family by winning the Gr. 3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup.
Right in the middle of the action was Lock’s father Peter, who four races earlier had claimed how own reward with emerging star Faithful Feat in the Gr. 3 J Swap Sprint. Several years ago father and daughter trained in partnership but now have separate licences, sharing stables at the family property adjacent to the Te Aroha racecourse.
“It was a great day for the family,” Peter Lock told RaceForm as he reflected on the Te Rapa feature double. “It’s great for Casey to win a race like this with a horse she loves, and for parents it’s a dream come true when your kids do things like this.
“I’m always there for Casey, when she’s not sure she’ll run things past me and I do my best to give her the right advice, but the credit for what she’s achieved with this horse belongs to her.”
Viktor Vegas began his career with Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in the ownership of his breeder, Bob Emery. He won twice from eight starts before he was transferred to the Lock stable and added another three in the Emery colours, however after finishing fourth at Te Rapa in November last year, the decision was made to retire him.
“Bob loved his horse and knew Casey loved him just as much, so he agreed to lease Viktor to her and let her compete with him around the shows,” Lock recalls. “The horse was thriving and one day Casey said to me he felt so good he should be back at the races. I said to her ‘Give Bob a call and suggest it to him’.
“Bob heard her out and wouldn’t you know, he gifted the horse to her. It was a wonderful gesture and to his credit, I reckon Bob is enjoying the success Casey is having with Viktor as much as any of us.”
Viktor Vegas finished third in his first start for his new owner-trainer in July and broke through for his first win in the Egmont Cup in October. He then finished third in the Counties Cup and a week before his Waikato Cup heroics he collected a bunch of ribbons competing in multiple classes at a gymkhana in Cambridge.
“It’s fun for both of us,” says Casey, “it’s also very good for his mind and his fitness levels. I knew after his gallop last Tuesday that he was ready for a big run.”
Peter Lock grew up in Matamata and began in racing with a farrier apprenticeship under renowned horseman Bob Autridge. In time he took out a trainer’s licence and for many years he operated out of stables on the southern outskirts of Ngaruawahia originally occupied by Laurie Laxon.
Te Rapa was Lock’s closest training facility and 20 years ago he went close to winning a home track feature when the McBeth family’s talented stayer Lord Mighty Mellay finished second in the Waikato Cup to Ruakaka star El Duce. Lord Mighty Mellay’s regular trackwork rider at the time was a teenaged Casey Lock, who admitted last Saturday that the Waikato Racing Club’s flagship staying event had been an ambition ever since.
While based these days in Te Aroha, the Locks regularly make the half-hour trip to the Matamata track, where Faithful Feat in particular has benefitted from the equine pool. “I’m still a Matamata boy,” says Lock senior. “That’s what I tell everyone when we bring our horses over from Te Aroha and we all get on like a house on fire.”
Mid-summer plans have been confirmed for the Lock duo, with Viktor Vegas being aimed at the Gr. 3 Queen Elizabeth ll Cup over the same course and distance as the Waikato Cup on New Year’s Day and Faithful Feat enjoying a let-up before targeting the Gr. 2 Westbury Classic, which she was narrowly beaten in last January, on the Karaka Million card at Pukekohe on January 21.
“We had been thinking about the Thorndon (Mile) but I’ve pulled her out of that and she’s having a freshen up before that set weight and penalties mares’ race. Then she can go back to Te Rapa for the BCD Sprint in February, and if we do decide to step her up to a mile we could have a go at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
“Casey’s keen to have a crack at the Wellington Cup with Viktor, so that race back at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day fits in well. It’s great what’s happened lately and wouldn’t it be fantastic if the run continued?”
Viktor Vegas is the only active member of Casey Lock’s racing team, but she and her father have leased a two-year-old half-sister by Churchill. Bob Emery will offer a Super Seth half-brother to Viktor Vegas through the Woburn Farm draft on the third day of Book 1 at the National Yearling Sale in late January.
Parental pride reached bursting point at Te Rapa last Saturday when young trainer Casey Lock capped a huge day for her family by winning the Gr. 3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup.
Right in the middle of the action was Lock’s father Peter, who four races earlier had claimed how own reward with emerging star Faithful Feat in the Gr. 3 J Swap Sprint. Several years ago father and daughter trained in partnership but now have separate licences, sharing stables at the family property adjacent to the Te Aroha racecourse.
“It was a great day for the family,” Peter Lock told RaceForm as he reflected on the Te Rapa feature double. “It’s great for Casey to win a race like this with a horse she loves, and for parents it’s a dream come true when your kids do things like this.
“I’m always there for Casey, when she’s not sure she’ll run things past me and I do my best to give her the right advice, but the credit for what she’s achieved with this horse belongs to her.”
Viktor Vegas began his career with Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in the ownership of his breeder, Bob Emery. He won twice from eight starts before he was transferred to the Lock stable and added another three in the Emery colours, however after finishing fourth at Te Rapa in November last year, the decision was made to retire him.
“Bob loved his horse and knew Casey loved him just as much, so he agreed to lease Viktor to her and let her compete with him around the shows,” Lock recalls. “The horse was thriving and one day Casey said to me he felt so good he should be back at the races. I said to her ‘Give Bob a call and suggest it to him’.
“Bob heard her out and wouldn’t you know, he gifted the horse to her. It was a wonderful gesture and to his credit, I reckon Bob is enjoying the success Casey is having with Viktor as much as any of us.”
Viktor Vegas finished third in his first start for his new owner-trainer in July and broke through for his first win in the Egmont Cup in October. He then finished third in the Counties Cup and a week before his Waikato Cup heroics he collected a bunch of ribbons competing in multiple classes at a gymkhana in Cambridge.
“It’s fun for both of us,” says Casey, “it’s also very good for his mind and his fitness levels. I knew after his gallop last Tuesday that he was ready for a big run.”
Peter Lock grew up in Matamata and began in racing with a farrier apprenticeship under renowned horseman Bob Autridge. In time he took out a trainer’s licence and for many years he operated out of stables on the southern outskirts of Ngaruawahia originally occupied by Laurie Laxon.
Te Rapa was Lock’s closest training facility and 20 years ago he went close to winning a home track feature when the McBeth family’s talented stayer Lord Mighty Mellay finished second in the Waikato Cup to Ruakaka star El Duce. Lord Mighty Mellay’s regular trackwork rider at the time was a teenaged Casey Lock, who admitted last Saturday that the Waikato Racing Club’s flagship staying event had been an ambition ever since.
While based these days in Te Aroha, the Locks regularly make the half-hour trip to the Matamata track, where Faithful Feat in particular has benefitted from the equine pool. “I’m still a Matamata boy,” says Lock senior. “That’s what I tell everyone when we bring our horses over from Te Aroha and we all get on like a house on fire.”
Mid-summer plans have been confirmed for the Lock duo, with Viktor Vegas being aimed at the Gr. 3 Queen Elizabeth ll Cup over the same course and distance as the Waikato Cup on New Year’s Day and Faithful Feat enjoying a let-up before targeting the Gr. 2 Westbury Classic, which she was narrowly beaten in last January, on the Karaka Million card at Pukekohe on January 21.
“We had been thinking about the Thorndon (Mile) but I’ve pulled her out of that and she’s having a freshen up before that set weight and penalties mares’ race. Then she can go back to Te Rapa for the BCD Sprint in February, and if we do decide to step her up to a mile we could have a go at the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.
“Casey’s keen to have a crack at the Wellington Cup with Viktor, so that race back at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day fits in well. It’s great what’s happened lately and wouldn’t it be fantastic if the run continued?”
Viktor Vegas is the only active member of Casey Lock’s racing team, but she and her father have leased a two-year-old half-sister by Churchill. Bob Emery will offer a Super Seth half-brother to Viktor Vegas through the Woburn Farm draft on the third day of Book 1 at the National Yearling Sale in late January.