Picturesque win for Laver

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Patience is a virtue and one which driver Sarah O’Reilly had in spades at the picturesque but tight-turning Kaikoura track on Sunday.

The talented junior driver was thrown a curve ball in the Road Metals/Kiwi Concrete Junior Drivers Mobile Pace (1900m) starting from the outside of the front-row with Laver.

But she followed trainer Geoff and James Dunn’s instructions to a T, taking the four-year-old gelding back to bide their time at the rear of the field before looming wide turning for home where Laver was able to gobble up his opposition and run away to a five-length victory.

Geoff Dunn was particularly pleased to get the victory with the son of his former eight-time Group One winner Venus Serena.

“I was rapt with it,” Dunn said. “It had to be run the right way because he was drawn so bad. I was hoping they would go really fast today because he is really tough.

“I thought he could run over the top of them, it just had to play the right way and it did.”

Dunn admitted to being a bit frustrated with the rating system when it came to Lavec and he has been a bit disheartened by his numerous wide draws.

“He is very tough and loves a hot pace, but because of his grading at the moment he keeps drawing terrible and because he is consistent he never drops down a point,” Dunn said.

“We had to hope the race was run like it was, and it was perfect.”

Dunn will be hoping for more success at Kaikoura on Monday when he lines-up Maurice in The Joiner Shop Pace (2400m).

The son of Sir Lincoln has just had the two start’s for Dunn for a win and a placing, and he is hoping that form will continue on Monday.

“He is really well and is working good,” Dunn said. “The only thing is the draw again. He has drawn 13 which around Kaikoura you are going to need a bit of luck.

“He seems like a good beginner, I haven’t had him very long but he has got a good standing start record and he has done it well at home, so fingers-crossed he begins well and gets a nice run.”