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MASTER LAVROS SOLID IN COMEBACK RANGIORA TRIAL

Former Trotter of the Year Master Lavros made a pleasing public return at the Rangiora trials on Tuesday, November 29.

Master Lavros looks big and bold in the early stages of Tuesday’s Rangiora trial for Regan Todd.

Driven by Regan Todd off a 50m handicap in the C1 and faster trot, the big Sundon gelding began well and followed his three rivals round, not being asked to over exert himself first-up.

He ran to the line without being hurried behind Victorian visitor, Kyvalley Blur (Bob Butt), who was too good after trailing The Best Beg.

Kyvalley Blur, third in both the NZ Trotting Free-For-All and Dominion Handicap during NZ Cup week 2016, came clear by 2 1/2 lengths in a comfortable 3:30.3 (2600m).

The leaders picked up the speed over their last 800m in 58s and closing 400m in 27.5s.

“Regan was happy with the big fella. He said he was trotting good and felt good,” said Overport Lodge trainer, Mark Jones.

Mark has a $13,000 mobile 2600m free-for-all trot at Addington on December 16 as a likely race resumption for Master Lavros, who is on the comeback trail after being sidelined with a hind suspensory injury last December.

Ice Crusher (Samantha Ottley) holds You Gotta Have Faith (Tim Williams) in the C1 mobile 2000m pace at the Rangiora trials.

Tuesday’s trials also resulted in a smart return by the lightly-raced Ice Crusher, who was spelled after racing at last year’s NZ Cup meeting.

Ice Crusher, a 4YO Christian Cullen-Helena Kilena gelding, has won two of his six race starts.

He led virtually throughout the C1 mobile 2000m pace on Tuesday, holding the capable All Stars 3YO You Gotta Have Faith, by a length in 2:30.9.

Ice Crusher impressed over his last 800m in 56.2s and his final 40m in 26.5s.

“Sam (Ottley) was rapt with him. We will look for a junior race at Forbury next week for him,” Mark said.

The stable also gave two juvenile trotters some experience in the 2YO mobile trot over 2000m.

Although outside the qualifying time of 2:42, the pair of Fancy Woman (Majestic Son-Playmate Of The Year filly), a grand-daughter of Miss Whiplash and Majestic Lavros (Majestic Son-Lavra Noblesse gelding), a half-brother to Master Lavros, were mistake free.

Fancy Woman (Samantha Ottley) holds stablemate Majestic Lavros (Mark Jones) in the 2YO trot at the Rangiora trials.

The former held by half a head in 2:48.5, the last 800m in 65.9s and final 400m in 32.4s.

Ellaquence (2f Well Said-Letatalk), a fourth-line descendant of 2012 NZ Broodmare Excellence Award winner Maureens Dream, gained her qualifying pacing ticket in the next heat.

She settled three back and held her inside place in the run home, finishing fifth, clocking 2:35.5.

Ellaquence is a half-sister to former good NZ, West Australian and now USA winner Machtu (1:50.8) and to Raconteur, dam of last season’s NZ record-setting 3YO filly, Talkerup (p3, 1:56), now in West Australia.

Maureens Dream, a half-sister to former brilliant youngster Tuapeka Knight, is the grand-dam of former smart NZ 3YO Ideal Scott (1:52.8) and has also been in the news lately as the grand-dam through Reality Check of NRM Sires’ Stakes 3YO winner in record time, Ultimate Machete (p3, 1:52.6 mile rate, 1950m) and his half-sister Major Reality (p3, 1:54.7), winner of a WA Oaks and winner of last Friday’s $50,000 Norms Daughter Mares Classic in Perth.

By Jeff Scott

ARIADNE LAVRA WINS; MASTER LAVROS TO TRIAL ON TUESDAY

Ariadne Lavra’s smart win in a $10,600 C1-2 pace at Geraldine on Saturday, November 26, may lead to an even brighter December for Overport Lodge owner Kypros Kotzikas, and trainer Mark Jones.

Mr Kotzikas’s star trotter Master Lavros had his first track hit-out on Sunday for the Overport Lodge team after being sidelined since last December.

“He will trial on Tuesday at Rangiora and all going well may race on December 16 at Addington,” Mark said.

Ariadne Lavra, successful at Orari on Saturday for driver Samantha Ottley. She’s the winner of four from seven starts for owner Kypros Kotzikas from the Overport Lodge stable of trainer Mark Jones.

The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club have a mobile 2600m free-for-all trot programmed, which may be a suitable option for the giant-sized trotter.

Master Lavros, a former Trotter of the Year, suffered a hind suspensory problem after running second to the subsequent Trotter of the Year Monbet in the Rosslands Lyell Creek Stakes at Auckland last December.

It was his only start after a month earlier winning a second Dominion Handicap at Addington.

Now eight, it has been a long slow road back to recovery for the Sundon gelding, but so far signs are encouraging.

He has raced 47 times for 19 wins, 11 placings and $590,102 in stakes.

Meanwhile, Mr Kotzikas’s promising 3YO pacing filly Ariadne Lavra confirmed her talent by outfinishing promising 3YO colt Raukapuka Ruler in Saturday’s C1-2 Temuka Transport Handicap Pace over 2500m.

The Art Major filly was safely away but in seventh place on settling, with driver Samantha Ottley soon finding a one-out trail on the back of warm favourite Raukapuka Ruler over the last 1900m.

They had the last say outsprinting the favourite in the closing stages to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a useful 3:16.9 for the 2500m trip, the leaders sharpening up over the last 800m in 59.1s and final 400m in 27.4s.

This was the fourth win in seven starts for just over $20,000 in stakes for the daughter of Hilarious Lavra, a race-winning grand-daughter of former top winning mare Tuapeka Star.

“I have no immediate plans with her,” Mark said.

“She will just tick over and her aim is the Southland Oaks,” he said.

By Jeff Scott

ADDINGTON-ORARI DOUBLE FOR HATTON-OWNED HORSES

It was a good two days last weekend for the Hatton family and Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, snaring a winning double with comeback trotter Eyre I Come at Addington on Friday, November 25, and a penalty-free C1 pacing win with Real Torque at Orari on Saturday, November 26.

Eyre I Come, resumed after a nine month layoff by leading over the last 1250m at Addington on Friday night.

Eyre I Come’s front-running win in the hands of Samantha Ottley at Addington on Friday was “big bonus” according to Mark, who felt he would be better with race.

“He’s a day-to-day horse so anything we get is a bonus. It was a good win fresh-up for so long and I just hope he stays sound,” he said.

Eyre I Come, a 6YO Majestic Son-Landoras Special gelding, raced by Grant Hatton along with Melbourne’s Merv and Meg Butterworth, was first-up since last racing in February.

He was able to capitalise after some of the favourites met early trouble.

However, Eyre I Come never looked like putting a foot wrong.

Settling third with a good start off the unruly off the 10m line, Samantha took him to the top with 1250m to run and he did enough to hold Tornado Valley, Little Mo and Twelve Monkeys, in a handy 3:21.6 for the 2600m.

Eyre I Come had enough in reserve to last by three-quarters of a length after running his last 800m in 58.4s and closing 400m in 28.9s.

This was just his 28th career start. He’s now won five and been six times placed for just over $65,000 in stakes.

Owner, Grant Hatton.

The Hatton family were back in the winner’s enclosure at the Geraldine meeting on Saturday after Real Torque unleashed with a well-timed late finish to take out the C1 Turley Farms Mobile Pace for former Overport Lodge employee, Kimberly Butt.

Real Torque is raced by Grant Hatton’s wife Katherine, along with their daughters, Emma, Gina and Kate.

She enjoyed a good run three back on the outer until getting the shuffle up at the 900m.

Held up in heavy traffic turning for home, Kim was able to switch her wide for a winning run, wearing down Southland visitor No More Change by a neck.

Kimberly had previously partnered Real Torque for her first two late 2YO wins on a northern campaign in June, 2015.

Real Torque, now a 4YO Real Desire half-sister Statesman (1:50.4, US), Imperative (1:55.1, US), Monaro (1:58.5) and Calais (1:55.3, Aust), was racking up her fifth win from 25 starts, for just under $50,000.

She hinted a quick return to winning form after a good second to American Tart in a C1-2 premier mares pace at Addington on NZ Cup day.

Real Torque, Auckland-bound next month after winning at Orari on Saturday.

“It was good for Grant Hatton and his family to win at Geraldine as he is kind of a local there. Also winning a $10k penalty-free race was great,” said Mark.

Mr Hatton, who won a Geraldine Cup in 2013 with top pacer Saveapatrol, was Temuka-born and raised but has always enjoyed attending and racing horses at Orari meetings.

Real Torque will now return for another Auckland campaign next month as Mark says she’s eligible for a money bags bonus at Alexandra Park.

Also joining Rocker Band in the northern team will be promising unraced juvenile The Bus, who will contest Young Gun racing, and Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Final contender Delightful Memphis.

The Bus, an Art Major colt, who like his older half-brother Saveapatrol is also raced by Mr Hatton, stepped up his fitness levels at the Rangiora workouts last Wednesday, winning a 2YO and unqualified mobile pace heat by four lengths in 2:32.8 (2000m), the last 800m in 56.5s and final 400m in 27.5s.

Meanwhile Delightful Memphis, winner of the opening Addington Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Heat, closed strongly for a 1 1/4 lengths second to Spanish Armada in last Friday’s third Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington.

Spanish Armada, from the three gate, worked to the front for co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen and rated 1:58.3 (1950m).

The All Stars stable-prepared Spanish Armada was unbeatable over her last 800m in front in 54.4s and closing 400m in a sizzling 26.1s.

By Jeff Scott

ROCKER BAND DELIVERS IN SLICK AUCKLAND WIN

Rocker Band, despite giving Samantha Ottley a difficult drive, shook off her Alexandra Park hoodoo with a slick win in a 1:54.9 mile rate (1700m) at Auckland on Friday, November 4, 2016.

The well-performed racemare was rewarded at her ninth start right-handed at Auckland when taking out the the $13,999 Movenpick Mile (1700m) in the open in 2:01.4.

Northern mare Better Be Amazed holds the NZ mares record for the trip at 1:59.9 (1:53.5 mile rate), set at Auckland in April.

Rocker Band and Sam Ottley assert their superiority over late closer Bronze Over (wide) and Ideal Belle in the Movenpick Mile (1700m) at Auckland on November 4. (Trish Dunell photo).

Rocker Band, winner of the $150,000 Harness Jewels 4YO Mares Diamond at Cambridge last June in 1:53.3, had recovered well after missing away from stand starts in her two lead-up Auckland starts last month.

Her best previous placing at Auckland was a second from the seven gate to Lusty Mac in the Listed $40,000 Magness Benrow Northern Mares Classic at Alexandra Park in March when the winner rated 1:56.7 (2200m).

However, her added experience right-handed on this campaign while based with the Barry Purdon team at Clevedon will benefit her for next month’s target, the Group One $100,000 Rosslands Queen Of Hearts at Auckland on December 16.

Trainer Mark Jones said it was great to get the win with Rocker Band, which also provided regular driver Sam Ottley with her first Alexandra Park win.

“All credit goes to Barry Purdon (caretaker trainer). He has got her flying and in career best form,” Mark said.

Rocker Band, the 5YO daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and 2005 New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner (only 4YO mare to win a NZ Cup), was third last on settling from the six gate.

She hung inwards when Sam made her moved three wide beginning the final 900m, improving to be parked at the 700m, then hung again when the speed went on at the 300m.

However, once she balanced up for the run home she showed her toughness, lifting to wear down leader Ideal Belle, with Bronze Over finished well late to grab second.

Rocker Band, raced by Southport (Gold Coast) owner Greg Brodie, won comfortably in the end by three-quarters of a length, with the leaders wasting no time over their last 800m in 55.5s and final 400m in 27.7s.

This was her 10th win from 28 starts, taking her earnings to $174,709 for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones.

By Jeff Scott

THE BUS COULD CONTEST YOUNG GUNS HEATS IN DECEMBER

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones is considering a Young Guns 2YO campaign in Auckland next month for appropriately-named juvenile, The Bus, following his win at the Addington trials on Wednesday, November 2.

The Bus, the nickname of Hurricanes and All Black rugby winger Julian Savea, is a half-brother to the well-performed Overport Lodge pacer Saveapatrol (11 wins from 18 starts for $145,618).

The Bus, and trainer Mark Jones, hold the challenge of the All Stars trio in a 2YO Mobile Pace at the Addington trials on Wednesday, November 2.

Both horses are owned by successful stable client Grant Hatton.

Saveapatrol, a former Auckland Cup placegetter, is a gelded son of Christian Cullen, while The Bus is a well-proportioned colt by Art Major.

“We bought this one in Australia from Glenferrie Farm. He was bred in Sydney so he’s eligible for the Breeders Challenge over there next year,” said trainer Mark Jones.

Both are from the big-winning Falcon Seelster mare Rondel Franco (1:51.6), who after winning one of seven NZ 2YO starts, went on to win a further 36 races in the US and Canada, retiring with earnings of the equivalent of $684,003 in stakes.

Rondel Franco, is from Reigning Franco, by Holmes Hanover from the smart 1970s racemare Royal Belmer (12 wins), the latter a winner of the 1973 NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes and 1972 Kaikoura Cup for the late leading Canterbury trainer, Jack Smolenski.

The family was also in the news last season with another descendant of the Royal Belmer line in Piccadilly Princess taking out the Victorian and North (Island) Oaks, and also the Harness Jewels 3YO Diamond at Cambridge in 1:53, beating out All Stars stablemates, Golden Goddess and Dream About Me.

Piccadilly Princess has won nine of 18 starts for $347,586.

Even though The Bus was 0.9 of a second outside the qualifying time on Wednesday, he won’t have much trouble getting his ticket.

He led up into a stiff easterly breeze on Wednesday and just held by a nose from the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained filly A Lister (Bettor’s Delight-Legs And Lips filly).

Two other All Stars-trained runners in Funatthebeach (Somebeachsomewhere-Minnie Moose colt) and Motu Rampage (Mach Three-Motu Living Doll colt), also chased The Bus home.

The Bus ran the mobile 2000m in 2:37.1 (2:06.3 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 59.8s and final 400m in 28s.

The Young Guns Series Heats begin with a $25,000 heat at Alexandra Park on December 16, with another scheduled on New Year’s Eve, and further heats in February and early March.

The Group One Breckon Bloodstock Young Gun Cardigan Bay Stakes Final to be run at Auckland on March 4.

By Jeff Scott