MASTER LAVROS UNTROUBLED TO WIN SECOND CUP
Top squaregaiter Master Lavros again pleased his connections by doing everything right at the start to win a second Group Three $25,000 Yaldhurst Hotel Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington on Friday, October 9.
Overport Lodge Woodend foreman Regan Todd took the trek down to the start to get a first hand look at the giant trotter when the tapes were released with the boss Mark Jones stepping Master Lavros perfectly from the inside of the 20m line.
Favourite Master Lavros leads the 2015 Yaldhurst Hotel Canterbury Park Trotting Cup with a lap to run for trainer Mark Jones. Zachary Binx trails with Quite A Moment three back. Uncas is parked ahead of Sheemon and Habibti in the running line.
Mark had the favourite out of early trouble switching him out wide and into the running line, then sending him to the top beginning the last 1600m.
Master Lavros was revelling in his work turning for home, leaving the others flat-footed as he ran clear.
The big Sundon gelding was travelling so well Mark didn’t have to activate the horse’s removeable deafeners.
Quite A Moment, who trailed early, then was three back from the 1600m, unwound well when she found racing room to get within a length of three quarters of the winner but never got close enough to threaten.
Harrysul, a stablemate of Quite A Moment in the Greg and Nina Hope stable, also ran home well late for third with Sheemon, given the run of the race on the outer, unable to quicken at the business end.
Master Lavros joined About Now (1981 & 1983), Tussle (1985 & Feb, 1987), Basil Dean (1984 & Jan, 1987) and Dr Hook (2010-2011) as dual Canterbury Park Trotting Cup winners.
He also started in last year’s race but wasn’t trotting as well as he is this year. He had to settle for fourth last year to Habibti, who posted a race and mares NZ record of 3:16.7, since equalled by Kincaslough.
Owner Kypros Kotzikas (left) is presented with the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup trophy by Brent Smith, deputy Chairman of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club.
Both Habibti and Kincaslough were mistake makers in the 2015 race. Habibti, after trailing three back on the outer, hung and broke at the 400m, with Kincaslough losing all chance with 2100m and being pulled up.
Master Lavros, the NZ mobile 2600m record holder (3:13.1), trotted the 2600m stand for his latest win in a strong 3:18.8, running his last 800m in 57.8s and knocking off a touch in the run home into a cool easterly breeze in 29.1s.
This was his 18th win from 44 starts for owner Kypros Kotzikas, taking his earnings to $443,502.
He will be looking to close the gap on arch rival Stent in the four-week countdown to big cup NZ Cup week trot features, the $80,000 Granite Beachtop NZ Trotting Free-For-All (1950m) on November 10, and the $250,000 Hellers Dominion (3200m stand) at Addington on November 13.
Mark bypassed the mobile NZ Trotting Free-For-All last year with Master Lavros but is giving consideration to starting him in both Cup week features this year.