By Matt Markham
Two of the forgotten stars of New Zealand harness racing are slowly but surely building towards a comeback in the first half of next season.
Open class trotting stars, Stent and Master Lavros have both had their seasons cut short by injury but are pleasing their respective trainers in their build up towards making it back to the track.
Stent, who was found to be suffering from a hole in his suspensory, has done six weeks jogging at the stables of his trainers, Colin and Julie DeFilippi.
“He’s coming along nicely,” Colin said.
“We had him scanned and given the once over last week and the vet was very happy with him so at this stage it’s all systems go.”
After an initial preparation which involved a lot of walking and swimming, Stent was sent to the Methven Equine Centre for three weeks.
The business which specialises in massage, swimming and agistment is situated a few kilometres east of Methven.
“It was purely just to give him a bit of a break and in a way that he didn’t have to put too much pressure on himself.
“It worked really well, he came back in great nick.”
DeFilippi said that it was a case of so far so good in terms of soundness for the $1 million earner, but there is no rush to get him back to the races.
“He’s due to step up his work in the next month and then we will look at getting into some serious fast work if everything is still OK.
“We won’t be pushing him though, he will tell us if and when he is ready.”
DeFilippi and Stent’s owner Trevor Casey won’t make any plans for the gelding until they know they have a horse who is 100 per cent which means that Cup Week in November isn’t a lock in.
“The Dominion would be nice, especially to take on Monbet.
“He’s clearly the best now, but we aren’t that far behind when we are right so it would be a great clash.” On the other side of State Highway One, Mark Jones is all smiles at the progress of this season’s Dominion Handicap winner, Master Lavros.
The big gelding did an extensive stint in the care of noted thoroughbred trainer, Brian Court after he suffered a hind suspensory injury late last year.
“He seems really good, he’s been out on the beach with Regan (Regan Todd) for the best part of two months now.
“He never really went to the paddock, Brian Court had him for quite a while and he just did fitness on the water walker and treadmill.”
Like DeFilippi, Jones is in no rush to get back to the track.
“It would be nice to be ready for Cup Week, but the horse deserves to find his own way there if that’s the case.
“We certainly won’t be pushing him that’s for sure.”
Master Lavros will be scanned next Monday to find out whether or not he is ready to take the next step up in his work.
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