Patience paying off with talented trotter

By Josh Smith - Harness News Desk

Burnham trainer Mark Jones is taking a couple of last start winners to Addington Raceway on Friday, but it’s a talented trotter he believes is his stable’s best chance of the night.

Majestic Lavros has done nothing but please his connections since returning from a near two year layoff in February, winning two of his four starts and finishing runner-up in his other two appearances.

“He suffered an injury as a late three-year-old,” Jones said. “We have just given him plenty of time to get over that.

“It was a long time off the scene but everything seems to be going well so far.”

The five-year-old gelding was beaten a neck by Gr.2 New Zealand Trotting Oaks (1980m) winner Vacation Hill when first-up at Addington Raceway last week and Jones said he should take plenty of improvement from the run.

Majestic Lavros will start from behind the 10m tape in the Woodlands Stud Handicap Trot (2600m) on Friday and a faultless performance should make him very hard to beat, according to Jones.

“He got beaten by a better horse last time, but he should have improved with that run and he gets in to a winnable race on Friday,” he said.

“He is quite a nice horse and he will keep improving. As a rule he has been foolproof, but with trotters you never know. If he does things right on Friday he is definitely the one to beat.”

Jones will also line-up last start winners Plutonium Lady and Burnham Boy.

“Plutonium Lady is quite a nice filly,” Jones said. “She got a good run last week and won very easily. It’s a bit of a jump in grade on Friday but she is a nice filly and should be thereabouts.

“Burnham Boy had all favours first-up when he won easily. It’s a step up in grade and Tango Tara is a pretty good horse, but in saying that he is a nice three-year-old and if he gets the right run he is an eachway chance.”

Jones will also line-up Kowhai Sundown in the Support The NZ Ambulance Trust Trot (2600m) and he is hoping the four-year-old brings his manners on Friday after he broke early in the piece at Addington last Sunday.

“He is a bit of a funny horse, he made a mistake last week, which is not like him,” Jones said.

“He strikes a good even field this week. He is good enough to be thereabouts, but it’s up to whether he does things right and if he gets the right run.”

While looking forward to Friday night, Jones said he is excited about the imminent raceday return of Group One performer Stylish Memphis.

“Stylish Memphis is back in work and is not far away from racing,” Jones said. “She will look to kick-off shortly.

“She may head towards the Southland Oaks and the Nevele R, and head to Auckland at Christmas time.”