Trevor Casey has a million reasons to smile

If anyone thought that Stent was vulnerable in the $80,000 New Zealand Trotting Championship at last nights harness racing meeting at Addington, (we did) then it took just three minutes and fifteen seconds to well and truly put that idea to bed.

Before the race had even got under way there was a major surprise when the well performed Kincaslough refused to score up twice and was late scratched as a result.

Everyone thought driver Colin De Filippi from barrier three would head straight to the front with Stent and that was the first surprise as Colin stayed out of the early rush.

Todd Mitchell and Prime Power flew the gate to lead from barrier seven with Stent settling into the one by one behind One Over Da Moon in the death.

Mark Jones worked Master Lavros forward from the second line and grabbed the lead after 700 metres and set a quick tempo up front.

Due to the tempo there were few mid race moves with the exception being Clover Don who worked forward to the death with 1200 metres to go.

At the 500 metres mark Mark Jones tried to steal a break on the field and turned for home four lengths in front  but the challengers were emerging from the pack.

First King Denny appeared and then Stent went straight past them all to grab a very game Masters Lavros in the shadows of the winning post for an emphatic victory.

Sheemon who followed Stent everywhere switched to the inside in the straight and flew late for third just in front of King Denny who made a very promising debut in town hall company.

A minor highlight of the race was the run of Alley Way, who flew late for sixth after being last on the final bend.

Colin was a touch apprehensive turning for home.

" I thought I may have left it too late to move because Master Lavros is a class trotter and is hard to reel in."

" Having said that I have a lot of confidence in my fellow and I knew they would know we were there," Colin said.

Owner Trevor Casey was one proud man post race

" That was a huge performance."

" I thought we were too far back on the turn so to get up and win was a great run," Trevor said.

Master Lavros went his best race for the season and there is plenty of room for improvement.

" I didn't even give him a trial before last week and I've left him really big this time in so there should be plenty of improvement in him."

" His condition gave out the last bit but I couldn't be happier with how he is trotting."

" We will head to the Rowe Cup now with a bit of confidence, " Mark said.

The unlucky horse once again was the northerner Prime Power.

Trainer Todd Mitchell was rueful about a shoeing change he had made.

" I changed his shoes four starts ago and fitted him with a lighter shoe."

" He was fine with them at Auckland but he struggled with them on the Addington surface."

" I was jogging tonight on the corner which makes it even more disappointing."

" I think back at Auckland he will be fine, but we may change the shoes back anyway," Todd said

It was a special night for Trevor Casey at Addington as not only does he own Stent but he also shares in the ownership of the brilliant Welcome Stakes winner last night in Waikiki Beach.

The cherry on top for Trevor was last nights win edged Stent over the $1,000,000 mark in lifetime earnings and the way he is going he could set new overall marks for stake earnings for a trotter in Australasia in the next couple of years.

Harnesslink Media