MASTER LAVROS OVERCOMES EARLY BREAK IN COMEBACK WIN
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has decided against travelling Master Lavros to Auckland for the Group One National Trot on December 31, instead electing to take him to Central Otago for a free-for-all trot on January 2.
“His leg scanned good this morning (Saturday) but he will not go to Auckland and head to Omakau instead,” Mark said.
Master Lavros, with trainer-driver Mark Jones wearing the Santa Hat, delivers in his comeback race at Addington on Friday night over Daryl Boko. (Race Images photo).
After weighing up the options, the Master Lavros team have gone with a more feasible target, even though he’ll be racing for $9000 at Omakau, instead of $80,000 on offer at Auckland.
Ultimately, his connections want to do the right thing for the horse’s longevity.
A long float trip to Auckland and racing at Group One level right-handed second-up after a year layoff may have been just a step too far.
Master Lavros had a harder run than intended resuming from a year’s layoff against four rivals in the $10,710 Happy Retirement Pam Nixon From Addington Mobile trot at Addington on Friday, December 16.
The big horse skipped into a gallop as the start was effected, settling some 40m metres from the early leaders Hey Yo, then Waterloo Sunset.
He reeled in the pelaton by the 1600m on a strong 1:14 lead time, with Mark edging him closer in the open from the 750m.
Daryl Boko, who made a mid-race move to try and lead over the last lap,still led turning for home, but Master Lavros, despite being not entirely happy in his gait, showed his immense will to win.
He lifted at the business end to win by half a length from Daryl Boko, with those who sent him round as the $1.60 favourite, full of admiration for his determination.
Master Lavros trotted the full 2600m in 3:14 (2:00 mile rate), with the leaders last 800m in 59s and final 400m in 28.4s.
Now eight, the big Sundon-Lavra Noblesse gelding, after having to work to catch the field at the mile, was timed over his last 1609m in 1:58.4.
Master Lavros is poised to crack the $600,000 in career earnings if successful at Omakau.
Friday’s win pushed his earnings to $596,992 from 20 wins in 48 starts for owner, Kypros Kotzikas.
By Jeff Scott