There was no one more in awe of what Master Lavros managed to achieve at Addington on Friday night than the man who spends the most time with him – Regan Todd.
The two-time Dominion Handicap winner produced one of the more remarkable returns to racing after almost exactly a year away from the track when he was victorious in a small, but select, field of trotters after galloping away from behind the mobile and giving his rivals at least 50 metres.
To see the gelding’s massive frame still there at the finish and sticking his head out at the time when it matters most came as a welcome view considering the disarray of the open class trotting ranks currently with Monbet, Stent and Speeding Spur all on the sidelines.
“It’s good to have him back,” Todd said on Saturday.
“I was pretty proud of him, to do that after being away for so long was pretty impressive I thought.”
While winning was nice, the major goal for the Mark Jones trained horse was to come through the run unscathed.
Todd said that initially it appeared as though his battle-scarred legs had come through the race well.
“His tendons were nice and tight this morning (Saturday) which is a good sign.
“There were a few marks from where he galloped on himself but we will have him scanned and checked over just to be safe.”
While Auckland was initially ear-marked next for Master Lavros, Todd expected a decision to be made early in the week to head to Central Otago early in the New Year instead before building up to the Rowe Cup later in the season.
“That is what I think is going to happen, we don’t want to push him too much.”
Trainer Mark Jones confirmed that on Sunday night that the scans had shown up nothing. But Auckland was definitely off the table.
“He scanned up great, but greed can kill a man and we have nothing to prove,” Jones said.
“We will just take the patient approach with him and Omakau is a little closer to home.”
Friday night’s win was the 20th in the career for Master Lavros from just 47 starts and his stake earnings are now close to $600,000.
HRNZ