It will take a super three-year-old to beat Lavra Joe in the Sky Channel WA Derby on April 30. That was the message issued by the champion colt when he produced yet another superb performance to score an effortless victory in the $40,000 Caduceus Club Classic at Gloucester Park on Saturday night.
Lavra Joe further enhanced his glowing reputation when he set a track record for three-year-olds over 2130m, rating 1.53.5 when he defeated Dominus Factum by four lengths in the group 3 classic.
This lowered the record rate of 1.54 shared by Magnificent Storm and Mighty Ronaldo.
“It was a very good run,” said owner-trainer Ray Jones. “But I thought his effort a week earlier when a head second to Mighty Ronaldo (in the group 2 Sales Classic) was his best run. Not many horses can sit outside the leader and just get beaten.”
Jones said that Lavra Joe would have his next start in the $50,000 Western Gateway Pace in a fortnight, and he would then race the colt every two weeks leading up to the Derby.
“He loves racing and has pulled up very well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the Derby, but it won’t be easy. There’s talk from New Zealand that there is a very good three-year-old (Ragazzo Mach) coming over for the Derby.”
Lavra Joe, favourite at $1.04 from the No. 1 barrier on Saturday night, was surprisingly beaten for early speed by Dominus Factum from barrier two who took a clear lead after 250m. However, Chris Lewis asserted Lavra Joe’s authority by sending him past Dominus Factum and into the lead about 150m later.
The lead time was covered in a fast 35.1sec. but Lavra Joe settled beautifully and went through the opening quarter of the final mile in 30.3sec. before increasing the tempo with final 400m sections in 28.5sec., 28.3sec. and 28.1sec.
Lavra Joe was not extended in beating the $81 outsider Dominus Factum and $91 chance Seeryanfly. Mighty Ronaldo ($12) did not threaten danger and finished ninth, just over nine lengths behind Lavra Joe, after racing in the one-out, two-back position. Give Us A Wave ($34) followed Mighty Ronaldo for most of the way and finished tenth.
Lavra Joe now boasts a splendid record of 26 starts for 14 wins, seven placings and stakes of $170,846.
By Ken Casellas