Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding reinsman Kyle Harper is looking forward keenly with mixed emotions to driving brilliant pacer Lavra Joe for the first time in a race when the five-year-old reappears after an eight-month absence in the $31,000 Vale Tony Stampalia Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Owner-trainer Ray Jones has engaged Harper to drive Lavra Joe, after Chris Lewis had handled the gelding at his past 54 starts for 28 wins.
“Getting the drive, I guess I’m lucky,” said Harper. “I was surprised as anyone, and I made it clear to Ray that I was happy to warm the seat (in two recent trials in Bunbury). I’ve been driving Been Scootin for Ray, and we’ve had a good run with him.
“But getting the drive behind Lavra Joe has been a bit awkward for me because I’ve got so much respect for Chris Lewis. He is a champion of the sport and I have idolised him, growing up. I have a lot of admiration for him.
“I spoke to Chris on Monday, and he was really good and made me feel a lot better about it. He is disappointed but said that these things happen.
“I never expected to get the drive, and this is exciting and perplexing at the same time. On one hand it could be a life changing opportunity for me. But things will have to work out.”
Lavra Joe, a winner at 30 of his 60 starts for earnings of $575,719, has not appeared since he raced wide and finished ninth behind Betterzippit in the $1 million Nullarbor slot race in April this year.
Harper was impressed when he handled Lavra Joe in a 2100m trial at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on Friday of last week. Lavra Joe dashed an early lead and set a brisk pace with quarters of 29.6sec., 28sec., 29sec. and 28.8sec. to win by eight lengths from Nomorepintsforyou, rating 1.55.3.
“He was powerful, a real powerhouse,” said Harper. “I haven’t felt a horse like that since Bettors Fire and Franco Edward. He has that bit of a special feeling about him.
“On Friday night he comes up against some good opposition over the short journey — and they can all run a good mile. He is definitely the class runner, but he has a wide draw. I’m not sure what Ray wants to do, but we will go into the race with a bit of confidence.”
Lavra Joe’s seven rivals have the benefit of recent racing, and all have the ability to make life tough for Lavra Joe. Shannon Suvaljko drives the Mike Reed-trained Blitzembye, who is in splendid form and has been placed at his past three starts, twice behind Magnificent Storm and once behind Wildwest.
“Blitzembye is always competitive, and even though Lavra Joe is a quality horse, it is going to be difficult for him, first-up,” said Suvaljko,” fresh from a treble at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.