Outstanding colt Lavra Joe warmed up in grand style for next Friday night’s $50,000 Sales Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings with an effortless victory in the 2130m TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
A red hot $1.10 favourite from barrier one, the powerful, muscular colt gave Chris Lewis an armchair drive, leading all the way and winning by three lengths from Talks Up A Storm ($12), with $16 third fancy Mighty Ronaldo a length farther back in third place.
Lavra Joe coasted through the lead time in 38.3sec. and the opening quarters in 30.6sec. and 29.4sec. before dashing over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 27sec. The son of American stallion Roll With Joe, Lavra Joe has earned $137,246 from his 13 wins and six placings from 24 starts.
“The Sales Classic is a race I have been looking forward to,” said owner-trainer Ray Jones. “After that race next week I’ll look at the program for the horse. I’m looking forward to him running in the Country Derby and the WA Derby.
The Murray Lindau-trained Talks Up A Storm trailed Lavra Joe all the way and ran home solidly, while Mighty Ronaldo wilted slightly in the home straight after racing in the breeze over the final 1000m.
By Ken Casellas