Latest News

MASTER LAVROS TO RENEW STENT RIVALRY IN MAY

Overport Lodge trainer-driver Mark Jones and Master Lavros will extend their rivalry with Stent at Addington in May.

Mark paid a tribute to Woodend Beach foreman Regan Todd for the lead-up work in getting Master Lavros back on song at Group One level.

Master Lavros, looking for further opportunities at Addington in May.

Next week (May 9), Master Lavros will take in a $20,000 C0-5 trot at Addington on Nevele R Fillies Final night, then has a $20,000 free-for-all trot over 2600m on NZ Oaks night (May 15).

Mark all but won back-to-back Rowe Cups with last season’s Trotter of the Year but they couldn’t quite hold out Stent at Auckland on April 24.

They had to bow by a head to this season’s star trotter Stent in the 2015 edition after a thrilling home stretch duel.

Stent’s co-trainer and driver Colin De Filippi made Master Lavros work for the opening 800m before wresting the lead, then had the last shot.

With an inside run and all out to get past Master Lavros, Stent had just enough momentum to grab a hard fought victory.

However, Master Lavros, having his fourth start since resuming in late March and improving with each run, wouldn’t give in without a fight.

He even tried to come back at Stent on the line at the end of the 3200m in a race record 4:03.6 (2:02.4 mile rate).

The leaders kept the speed strong over their last 800m in 57.9s and final 400m in 28s.

This has been Stent’s season at the top for
trainers Colin and Julie De Filippi, and owner Trev Casey.

Its been a $600,000-plus winning 6YO term for Stent, the son of Dream Vacation and Belle Galleon.

He’s gone unbeaten in five Australian starts, including a clean sweep of the lucrative Great Southern Star, earning $343,060 this term across the Tasman.

Stent has won eight of 13 NZ starts at six.

Apart from a sixth in Jaccka Justy’s Dominion at Addington last November, he’s been dominant.

His other domestic wins have been in the G3 Ashburton Trotters Mile in 1:56, the G1 NZ Trotting Free-For-All, the G2 Rosslands Lyell Creek Stakes at Auckland, the G2 Group One Turf Bar Trotters Mile at Cambridge in 1:54.5, G3 Te Awamutu Trotters Flying Stakes at Cambridge and the G1 NZ Trotting Championship at Addington (over Master Lavros).

ROCKER BAND TREATED FOR VIRAL INFECTION

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones is treating Rocker Band for a viral infection following her trip south for the Southland Oaks Final last Sunday.

“She showed a viral infection so will be treated and will head to the Nevele R Final at Addington early next month, ” Mark said.

Rocker Band was vet tested after stopping quickly with 400m to run in the Southland Oaks.

The beaten favourite stopped so rapidly that she finished over 53 lengths from winner Smokin Bird.

The Kevin Court-trained Smokin Bird won the mobile 2700m feature by finishing best from the trail in a smart 3:23.4 but was well outside The Orange Agent’s national mark of 3:18.8

EXPRESSO MARTINI DELIVERS FOR MET SYNDICATE

Met Eight Syndicate-owned Expresso Martini made an encouraging return from a five month layoff for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones at Addington on Friday, April 10.

The Bettor’s Delight half-brother to former Nevele R Fillies Final winner Secret Potion (1:57.5, 10 wins & $285,312) promised much after winning a late season penalty-free maiden 2YO win at Nelson in a quick 2:57.9 (mobile 2400m).

Expresso Martini, resumed with a smart winning second bonus maiden win, this time at Addington on Friday, April 10.

However, after four moderate runs in October and early November he was sent to the spelling paddock with time being on his side.

Expresso Martini was primed for a bold return in the Avon City Ford New Mondeo Range Mobile Pace after a good trial at Ashburton four days earlier.

Driver Blair Orange, from the seven gate, was able to work him into a three back trailing spot on the outer, but things weren’t looking so good when shuffled back to second last beginning the final 800m.

However, Blair didn’t panic angling him wide across sulkies turing for home, then putting in a smart winning dash wide for a well-timed half-neck win over favourite Classielea.

He paced the mobile 1950m in 2:27.8 (2:01.9 mile rate) on a drying track, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.8s.

Expresso Martini is bred to step up as a late 3YO, being from the same maternal family as former Superstars Championship and Grand Circuit performer Defoe (TT, 1:53)

His third dam Awfully Nice (p3, 1:59.6) left the fast North American winner Silver Lined Pocket (1:50.4), the winner of 36 combined races in NZ, Australia and the USA, for over $350,000 in earnings, who like most of the family,  came good as an older pacer.

Awfully Nice was a Nero’s BB half-sister to Defoe (20 wins & also a Lion Red Mile winner and twice placed in Miracle Miles), All Systems Go (1:51.4, US) and Nothin But A Dreamer (p3, TT, 1:58.9), now the dam of fast ex-Kiwi USA winner Dream Out Loud (1:48.8), who won nine of his first 26 Australasian starts for trainer Steve Dolan.

Expresso Martini, a brother to She’s Got It (TT, 1:55.3, three wins), is also a half-brother to other useful winers in How Do Mate (1:59.3, four wins) and Secret Lotion (1:58.9, three wins).

He is also from the same family as last month’s Northern Oaks runnerup Start Dreaming (p3, 1:58.3 mile rate, 2200m), who like Secret Potion, only began racing a three.

By Jeff Scott