Gear change for Port Lockroy in 2025 The Gong
Nearly twelve months after claiming Western Australia’s premier mile, the Group One Railway Stakes, Port Lockroy will attempt to rediscover winning form in Saturday’s $1 million Gong at Kembla Grange.
Though he hasn’t placed in nine runs since, he has produced several competitive efforts, including a narrow defeat in the Doncaster Mile. Co-trainer Annabel Archibald maintains there are fair reasons to overlook parts of his spring record.
“He has been carrying the same weights as weight-for-age, Group One winners for winning a Perth, Group One handicap,” Archibald said.
“Life has been tough for him since then and this is probably the first time he gets in well at the weights, albeit he is drawn fifteen.”
His most recent outing saw him lug 59kg when finishing eighth to Vivy Air in the Five Diamonds (1800m). Dropping to 54kg for the Gong (1600m), he also gains first-time blinkers in an attempt to spark improvement.
Archibald explained that Port Lockroy’s status as an entire wasn’t deliberate but simply a result of circumstance.
“He is very quiet, to the point where we almost forgot to geld him as a three-year-old and that’s why he came back as an entire as a four-year-old,” she said.
“He hadn’t really done enough at that point to warrant remaining a colt, and then of course, he won the Group One.
“We’re just treating him as a racehorse. He is a lovely natured horse. He is like an old gelding.”
Stablemate Tuned, conversely, showed immediate benefit from gelding when resuming with a convincing win at Rosehill first-up.
He will attempt another victory in the ABAX Civil Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, with connections envisioning a return to stakes company if he continues progressing.
“Unlike Port Lockroy, who doesn’t really look like a bull, he did,” Archibald said.
“He needed gelding. He was getting too heavy and I’m glad we did it because it was a nice win the other day and he had plenty of improvement to come.
“I’d like to think we’ll get an improved run again at the weekend.”
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