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MASTER LAVROS SOUND AFTER BEING NOSED OUT AT OMAKAU

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones says top trotter Master Lavros has pulled up well from his surprise defeat by Monty Python in the free-for-all trot at Omakau on Monday.

Master Lavros, narrowly beaten at Omakau but has come through the race well.

“He’s pulled up good and sound,” Mark said.

“We will look at the local free-for-all races with him. We are just happy to have him back racing,” he said.

Given veterinary opinion was that Master Lavros was unlikely to race again after suffering a bad suspensory injury at Auckland just over 12 months ago, the former two-time Dominion Handicap winner has defied the odds by making a return to racing.

However, the winner of nearly $600,000 remains a day-to-day proposition with each race a bonus.

Master Lavros, who dominated the betting in Monday’s free-for-all, worked to the front, as expected, in the Alexandra Super Liquor/Macca Lodge FFA Trot at Omakau but had to slog it out with Monty Python over the final 100 metres.

The Phil Williamson-trained Monty Python came off his back with a sling-shot finish and although Master Lavros tried to hold him out the latter had the momentum up at the right time for Matty Williamson and had his nose in front at the line.

Monty Python, now the winner of 10 from 55 starts for $89,382 in stakes, was recording his first win for nearly 12 months but had been consistent in the interim.

The 7YO Pegasus Spur gelding trotted the 2600m in 3:19.1 (2:03.2 mile rate), with the leaders running their last 800m in 58.7s and final 400m in 28.6s.

By Jeff Scott

GLENFERRIE CLASSIC TAKES 1:55.9 MILE RECORD AT WINTON

Glenferrie Classic, who earned a nice mile mark of 1:55.9 at Winton on December 29 to compliment her classic pedigree, could join stablemate Perissa in a tilt for Cromwell Cup grass track honours on Saturday, January 6.

Perissa is also Central Otago-bound after her bold grass track third behind Johnny Eyre and Take After Me in last Friday’s Reefton Cup.

Glenferrie Classic, the fifth sub 2:00 winner from her dam, the 2005 NZ Cup winner Mainland Banner. (Race Images photo).

Glenferrie Classic opened her 4YO racing with first-up grass track win at Methven last month.

The impeccably-bred daughter of champion sire Bettor’s Delight and 2005 New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner (Christian Cullen-Corporate Banner) becomes the fifth sub 2:00 performer from the first five to race from her dam.

Now the winner of three and five times placed from 15 starts for $22,697, she’s a half-sister to the fast pacers Peruvian Banner (1:52.4, US), Stunin Banner (1:56.2, Aust, racing well in NZ as an older horse for Todd Mitchell), Return To Sender (1:52.6, US) and her year-older stablemate, Rocker Band (1:53.3).

Trainer Mark Jones says Glenferrie Classic is typical of her family in that she’s getting stronger as she gets older.

Driver Stevie Golding had no options but to follow the speed early from a second row draw with Glenferrie Classic, being second-last in the running line after the opening quarter.

Still third last at the 600m, they had a good drag into it three wide with cover behind Dancing In The Dark turning for home.

They had the last say winding up strongly over the final 100m to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths.

Adding further merit to the win was the fact the leaders ran the opening half in an even 60s with things only hotting up over the final 800m in 55.9s and closing 400m in 27.8s.

It was a winning double for the Mark Jones stable and driver Stevie Golding at Winton, with Best Defence, also delivering in the PGG Wrightson ‘Sale of the Stars’ C1 Mobile Pace.

Stevie was beaten out early by fellow Canterbury raider Hunter Bromac, then after ending up three back, he drove Best Defence positively, moving him round to the front when the speed slowed mid-race.

Best Defence (6g Live Or Die-Home Vendor) kept kicking in the run home to hold by 1 1/2 lengths from outsider Rahuri Badlands, with Hunter Bromac finishing on late for third.

The winner, raced by Canterbury racecaller Mark McNamara and wife Katie, paced a smart 2:58.3 for the mobile 2400m (1:59.5 mile rate) for his second win from 41 starts and his first in six starts since being leased by the McNamaras’

Best Defence will try for back-to-back wins in an amateur drivers race at Roxburgh on Wednesday.

EYRE I COME LOOKS FOR ANOTHER INTERMEDIATE TROT

Although nominated for the Group One $80,000 National Trot at Auckland on New Year’s eve, Eyre I Come will attempt to win a $20,000 rating 67-plus trot instead.

Eyre I Come, in good touch winning two of his three starts on this preparation for trainer Mark Jones and driver Blair Orange.

“We’ll just keep him in his own grade. It was good winning his first run up there this time on Thursday and we’ll be happy if he can win another like that, rather than go into the big one,” Mark said.

Eyre I Come notched his second win right-handed at Alexandra Park in the hands of Blair Orange at the Auckland meeting on Thursday, December 22.

After starting from the 20m line, he settled fifth, improved parked over the final lap and held Forfeathers in a useful 3:27 (2700m stand), with the leaders last 800m in 57.9s, in the $12,940 rating 56-92 Dunstan Summer Series Handicap Trot.

Eyre I Come’s previous win at Auckland was a premier one last New Year’s eve, when he beat Il Pirata, Everybody Knows and Saint Michel, in a $20,000 trot there.

The 6YO Majestic Son-Landora’s Special gelding was recording his sixth win from 30 starts, taking his earnings to $73,364 for owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth, and Grant Hatton.

He’s been in good touch after resuming from a nine month layoff, with two wins and a second in three starts on this preparation.

By Jeff Scott