Jones shelves Queensland plans for Lavra Joe

Trainer Ray Jones has resisted the temptation to continue Lavra Joe’s (Roll With Joe) campaign in Queensland, instead deciding to spell the harness racing gelding.

Lavra Joe was unplaced behind Pinny Tiger in the Narrogin Cup earlier this month, a fortnight after he was withdrawn from the Retravision-Fremantle Cup just minutes prior to start time.

Jones had planned for Lavra Joe to follow a similar path in Queensland to fellow WA pacer Magnificent Storm 12 months earlier and tackle races like the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake.

The Greenbushes-based trainer said time was against him getting Lavra Joe set for an interstate trip.

“He went to the Narrogin Cup and he wasn’t really ready for that and (Gary Hall) Junior let him run under his own steam to the line,” Jones told The Trots WA.

“I just thought going to Queensland could be a bit hard.

“I will put him out and give him a few months wondering around the paddock.

“He’s never had a good long spell, so he can live the life of a horse for two months.”

While Lavra Joe produced some outstanding performances last campaign, including a pair of slashing fourths in the Bunbury Cup and Nullarbor, Jones said there was an element of frustration at the end of it.

“To me he’s proven he’s capable of running against the best of them,” he said.

“He went to a level I thought he was capable of getting to, but we never got the fruits of it.

“He just had a couple of niggly things that weren’t quite right.

“Sometimes you have to take stock and put the cue in the rack.

“It’s good for me to have a little break as well.”

Meanwhile, Waverider has been supported from $2.10 to $1.65 with TABtouch for Friday’s Team Bond-Pearl Classic (2130m).

Franco Encore, who drew barrier one, is considered the main danger to his stablemate at $2.60, while Ideal Muscle ($8) is the only other pacer in single figures.

Captain Stirling ($2.15) is the warm favourite for the $50,000 Team Bond-Champagne Classic (2130m).

by Tim Walker for RWWA