Trainer Barry Lockwood enjoying a new year

By Glenn Davis

A new year and a new start – that’s how Eagle Farm trainer Barry Lockwood sees 2023.

The veteran trainer Lockwood suffered serious health concerns last year including a bout of cancer but has fought them all off and is now doing what he does best – training winners.

Lockwood will head to Doomben on Wednesday with just one runner, Beau Ideal, who will be ridden by Georgina Cartwright, in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1200 metres.

The imported sprinter was brought to Australia in 2018 after recording two wins in France.

He was part of the Godolphin team and was trained by James Cummings but after struggling in three starts for the powerful stable, he was moved on to David Vandyke at Caloundra.

The son of Exceed And Excel had a further three starts for Vandyke before he found his way into the Lockwood’s stable in April last year.

“He hasn’t won for six years and had been racing poorly before I got him,” Lockwood said.

“I think he was just a little bit worn out from travelling around the world.”

Beau Ideal showed little in his first five starts for Lockwood before placing for only the third time on Australian soil behind the Lee Freedman-trained The Billionaire in a Benchmark race at Ipswich on January 14.

It was his first run in more than six months after he was turned out following a close fifth to Toowoomba star Go Wandji at Eagle Farm last June.

“His last run was very good and he seems to be a lot brighter this campaign but he’ll need to do something soon otherwise it might be his last campaign,” Lockwood said.

Lockwood has 20 horses in work at Eagle Farm and is happy with the way his stable is performing.

“Things are going well right now and I feel a lot better myself,” he said.

“It makes a difference.”

Lockwood’s health problems last year saw him lose two toes, making it three all up he is without after losing another following a mishap.

“I’m down to having 70 per cent of my toes after I lost two following a staph infection last year,” he said.

“I lost the other when a horse stood on my left foot.

“I’m lucky I get regular check-ups as that’s how they found the cancer in my face and ear which they cut out.”