MASTER LAVROS BY SIX LENGTHS IN TRIAL
Promising squaregaiter Master Lavros would only need to step as swiftly as he did at the NZ Cup trials at Addington on Wednesday (November 7) to be very hard to beat on the big day on Tuesday.
“That’s the only problem. When he begins like that, he normally doesn’t do it the next time,” said Mark.
Master Lavros confirmed he is trained to the minute for the premier raceday by leaving his rivals in his wake by six lengths in the run home, with race rival Lucky Monarch next best, finishing on from three back, ahead of Sol Invictus.
The ‘Master’ trotted the 2600m in 3:25.3 after a cool easterly wind had freshened, picking up the tempo over his last 800m in 59s and his closing 400m in 29.6s.
He has been ticking over nicely since gaining a penalty-free junior drivers win for Regan Todd at Rangiora on September 20.
The big 4YO Sundon gelding is raced by Kyros Kotzikas, who enjoyed a stellar 1997 New Zealand Cup day winning the big race with Iraklis.
Master Lavros has been well placed to win four from only six starts, and still remains on a 1-win assessment to try and take advantage of his placement off the front in the 1-2 wins $20,000 The Recruitment Network Handicap Trot on Cup day.
He starts from the inside of the four unruly horses in a capacity field. Everything will hinge on how he copes over the opening 200 metres.
Wednesday’s trial was pleasing and comes on the back of an equally easy Rangiora workout win on October 27.
However, Master Lavros mixed his gait for his first few strides on that occasion.
He was too slick at the business end though, coming clear by 4 1/4 lengths from Imelda, trotting the 2600m that day in 3:23.2