Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star pacer Lavra Joe reappeared after a two-month absence when he finished a well-beaten tenth behind Minstrel in the 2692m Pinjarra Cup on Monday. But he has the ability to bounce back and overcome the disadvantage of barrier seven by winning the $31,000 Allwood Stud Free-For-All at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
In the Pinjarra Cup Lavra Joe was restrained at the start from the No. 5 barrier and he then began to pull very hard at the rear. He was last 400m from home and finished at the rear.
The Ray Jones-trained Lavra Joe started from barrier seven in a 21300m Free-For-All at Gloucester Park two starts before Monday’s run when Kyle Harper set him alight, and he burst to the front after 50 metres and went on to set the pace and win easily from Arma Einstein, rating 1.55.6 with final quarters of 27.8sec. and 27.1sec.
Harper has often said that his tactics at the start of any race depend simply on a gut feeling or what is transpiring around him.
So, the big question on Friday night is will Harper employ his tactics he used with success three starts ago. There is plenty of gate speed on the inside of Lavra Joe, with Ima Fivestar General, Hampton Banner, Watts Up Sunshine, Swingband and Talks Up a Storm all possessing excellent gate speed.
Swingband, to be driven by Kyle Symington for trainer Ryan Bell, has begun from wide barriers at his two outings after a spell. He was restrained in both events in which he raced at the rear and finished seventh behind Tricky Miki at Gloucester Park three Fridays ago and ninth in Monday’s Pinjarra Cup.
“Swingband’s times at Pinjarra were outstanding, but he couldn’t get into the race,” said reinsman Kyle Symington. “It’s a nice field on Friday night but the race doesn’t include a couple of topliners. Swingband should be in the finish.”
Ima Fivestar General, trained and driven by Robbie Williams, will start from the prized No. 1 barrier and should prove hard to beat. He is in excellent form, with his past five starts producing two wins, two seconds and a fifth placing behind Minstrel.