Addington test for unbeaten Lavra Rose
Garrick Knight - Raceform • October 2nd, 2025 3:30 PM
Despite being ringfenced into racing at Addington this week, Derek Jones is optimistic he and wife Adele’s unbeaten filly Lavra Rose will give a good account of herself.
The daughter of Bettor’s Delight has impressed winning both starts at the two grass-track meetings that opened the new season in recent weeks, and the Joneses were keen to head back to Methven this Sunday to make it a third.
“I would have preferred that, but they made the race a rating 35 to 44 and she’s a 45,” Jones told RaceForm. “I think it was done to force her and the other ‘45s’ to go to Addington, so that’s what we have to do.”
Lavra Rose has been super-impressive winning both times, showing genuine speed from off the pace to record comfortable victories. It’s a long way from where she was earlier in the year.
“She’s completely and utterly surprised me. We’ve had her since she was a weanling, and she just didn’t show anything as a two-year-old.
“I thought ‘this thing is not going to make it’, but Kypros (Kotzikas, owner) asked me to keep going. Then, about three months ago, she just turned the corner. I worked her one day with a couple of Regan Todd’s and she went straight past them.
“I said to Regan his two must not be any good, and he said, ‘No, one of them has won a couple of races!’
“I’ve since learned that it’s quite common for the Bettor’s Delights to be like that – show you nothing at home but go to another level at the races. And she certainly can’t do any more than she’s done to start her career.”
Bookies opened Lavra Rose second favourite on Tuesday at $6, the only other horse in single figures behind hot favourite, Tact Teva ($1.60). Jones is approaching the race with cautious optimism.
“I’m not saying she can’t win because she keeps surprising us, but she’s going to need to step up again this week.”
Come Sunday, the Joneses will still head to Methven with trotting mare Muscle Sass and their veteran pacer Kiss The Girls, who has been a staple on the Country Cups circuit in recent years but has not won for three and a half years.
“I think he can get back to the winner’s circle. It’s a big drop down in grade for him this week. He’s definitely working very, very well – he held his own with I’m Rockin of Regan’s the other day and it would be favourite in that field. He’s just got to be near them at the top of the straight or he doesn’t try.
“As for Muscle Sass, I really think she can win. She had no luck in her resuming run at Addington – there were horses everywhere in front of her.
“I took her to Methven for a quiet workout recently and she absolutely donkey-licked them, so there are no concerns about the grass.”
Historically a bad traveller, Muscle Sass has matured a lot mentally this preparation and he thinks that will be reflected in more consistency in her races as they look to add to her six race wins.
Jones reported that stable star Eurostyle should hopefully be back on track for upcoming features after a recent setback. She broke on the final bend at Oamaru on September 14 when well-fancied in the Gr. 3 Jasmyn’s Gift Stakes.
“I am cautiously optimistic with her. She hurt hind foot after kicking out a couple of days before Oamaru. She fell over and landed awkwardly and initially I didn’t think it bothered her, but she trotted horribly at Oamaru.
“I think she’s coming right, though I haven’t worked her since, just jogged her. She won’t go in the Dominion unless she’s 110 per cent.”
