Lavra Joe after his win in the 2023 Furphy Bunbury Cup Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
Lavra Joe, who’s now earned in excess of $730,000 is still in search of his first group 1 victory, could this be the week for the WA bred star?
“I’m trying not to think about it too much, he’s never won one, I’m hoping he can lead, if he can hold up, they’ll have a fair bit of trouble getting over him, he is very, very strong.”
Trainer Ray Jones plans to lead this week but is concerned about Pinny Tiger’s brilliant gate speed and whether his connections will make the decision to burn across early from barrier five in this Fridays $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup.
“He certainly did the work (last week) and I didn’t expect him to be able to finish off like that, it just shows that he’s in a really good place at the moment, hopefully he can show it with this good draw he’s got now.”
“I’m trying to tick all the boxes, we’ve been lucky enough to get the right draw, we’ve got the leading driver on, if it doesn’t happen this week I don’t know when it will.
“He’s in a really good spot, I worked him about half an hour ago, he’s feeling really, really well and the run doesn’t seem to have affected him at all.”
Lavra Joe, who stormed home to finish fourth in last weeks $1.25million The Nullarbor managed to finish just 6.2m behind the winner, showing an incredible amount of strength and tenacity, with Jones even surprised at how well he finished it off.
The decision was made after Friday night’s run that Gary Hall Jnr would take the reins on Lavra Joe going into the Fremantle Cup.
“He (Gary Hall Jnr) made himself available, and I made the decision to go that way.”
“He told me he was going to draw one when I spoke to him on Sunday, so maybe he’s very lucky.”
“I’m sure he will have a restless night or two trying to think about what he can do, or what he can’t do.”
“He does deserve it, he’s won 33 races, and he just can’t seem to have the luck in the big one, maybe this our turn, I don’t know, but this prep he was very unlucky in the Bunbury Cup, he should have won the Mount Eden Sprint at Pinjarra, so maybe it’s time.”
“Everyone loves Lavra Joe, he’s done the hard yards, he tries very hard, he’s had a couple of little hiccups and he’s come back from it all, this is his big chance.”
It’s all business as usual with Jones, Lavra Joe had his usual gallop today and will now jog tomorrow and Thursday before heading up to Gloucester Park Friday where he’s has opened up as the $3.00 favourite with TABtouch fixed odds.
Lavra Joe is the fairytale story of the yearling that no one wanted at the sales, with Jones stopping in at KTC Bloodstock on his way home and purchasing him for a mere $22,000, going on to now win over $700,000 and very likely to hit the $1million mark in his career.
“It’s the same as Shane (Young) with Wonderful To Fly, for him to get one at his stage of his career is just so good as well,
“This is probably the last horse I’ll have, once he finishes racing, its just time to wind back,
“Its exciting, a little bit stressful, you have to make decisions, people get upset about the decisions you make, but I appreciate how lucky I am to have him, but it might be time to have a rest when he retires,
“He won’t be going anywhere, I can assure you that, he will retire at our place in Busselton, eat green grass and enjoy the life he deserves.”
Speaking with Tim Walker on Monday, Jones didn’t rule out the possibility of heading to Queensland to contest the Blacks A Fake and Sunshine later in the season.
“It’s on the agenda if he holds his form. I just want to do something a bit different.” Jones told Tim Walker.
