Conservative Path Likely For Joe
Trainer Ray Jones is leaning towards taking a conservative approach with Lavra Joe in his Free-For-All debut at Gloucester Park tomorrow night.
Lavra Joe has scored comfortable wins at both starts this campaign and has drawn barrier two in tomorrow night’s DTS – All Your Civil & Construction Supply Needs Pace (2130m).
The gelding only has Jumpingjackmac drawn to his inside, who looms as his main danger.
Jones said while he was happy with Lavra Joe’s progress this time in, he didn’t feel now was the time to test his stable star by sitting outside Jumpingjackmac.
“I think the sensible thing to do would be to drop in behind,” Jones told The Trots WA.
“It’s a big step up.
“If he gets a run at the finish, that will be fantastic.
“It’s a bit of a learning curve for him.”
Lavra Joe has received some early support in the TABtouch market for the feature event and sits on the second line of betting at $3.20.
Jumpingjackmac has also been well supported and is a dominant $1.55 favourite.
Minstrel sits on the third line of betting at $6.50 for the star-studded affair, where he has drawn wide in barrier seven.
Ryan Warwick teams up again with the Fremantle Cup winner and said the five-year-old was forward enough to be competitive, but conceded it was likely to be a tricky task from the draw.
“Last week he was going to draw wide over a mile, and he probably could have gone around the way it panned out,” Warwick told TABradio.
“He’s been ready to go for a little while.
“A lot of these have got a few runs under their belt.
“I’m sure he will acquit himself well but where he ends up, I’m not sure.”
Warwick also teams up with Himself in the Direct Trades Supply San Simeon (2130m) and is the $2.25 TABtouch favourite.
Tim Walker
Image – Hamilton Content Creators
WATCH – Lavra Joe’s most recent performance