MASTER LAVROS GALLOPS EARLY, BUT BIG RECOVERY
Top squaregaiter Master Lavros looks set to carry on where he left off last season after a sterling first-up trial at Addington on Monday, September 14.
Top squaregaiter Master Lavros and Mark Jones.
Now seven, the big Sundon gelding had six weeks off ending last term with back-to-back Addington wins in May.
He was just a bit too fresh at the start, galloping away off the 40m tape and giving the leaders 100m before clicking into his trotting stride.
With Young Stranger running the heat along up front, Master Lavros tacked on at the back and finished off with purpose from the home turn, closing the gap to four lengths at the line.
Young Stranger trotted the 2600m in 3:23.4 off the front (last 800m in 59.3s.
Overport Lodge trainer-driver Mark Jones timed Master Lavros to run his last 2400m in around 2:59 and his closing 800m in 57s, a top trial first-up for the season.
“I was happy with him,” Mark said.
“He was fresh at start but trotted great after. He felt super and did it easy so I’m very happy at this stage.”
“He is pretty forward fitness-wise, so one more quiet trial then race at Addington on October 2.”
The 2013 Dominion winner returns this term having won 17 from 42 starts, for $427,194 in earnings.