The rising star arrives at the Southland running race at Ascot Park on Friday with all kinds of ticks next to his name.
He is in excellent form, has made a brilliant start recently and has proven himself at Group 1 level.
It is the latter that means Butt will head into the Invercargill Cup with full confidence in his pacer.
A brilliant effort in the recent The Christian Cullen confirmed everything Butt already suspected about The Lazarus Effect.
“He put in a lot of work and did a great job, he proved he can handle it at that level,” Butt said.
“I always knew he had a lot of speed, but when he came through the numbers he was always a big favorite and he didn’t have to be so tough.”
“To finish second to Kingman like him, it showed that he will be quite versatile in that top class.”
As the Lazarus Effect has set in, he looks like a serious chance to be the first of the big chances to get to the front of the Invercargill Cup.
Although Butt knows you can’t make too many plans before the tapes come out at a Group 1 event.
“He has started brilliantly but it will come down to what happens on the day.”
“He’s made the trip there and it’s a new track and it’s a Group 1, anything can get away quickly.”
“We have to hope that he starts as well as before, because staying ahead of the laggards is important.”
From the front line, The Lazarus Effect gains a 10-meter buffer over Alta Meteor and a 20-meter lead over the favored and defending champion Republican Party.
If the four-year-old can get away quickly and get close to the pace, a repeat of Butt’s tactics in his stunning win over Kaikoura in November could be in order.
“We let him compete at Kaikoura and he was good. It’s a similar track and it would be good if he could do something like that.”
With just twelve starts, The Lazarus Effect is the baby of the Invercargill Cup field.
Wag Star is the second least experienced pacer in the Group 1 event with 33 starts.
To see the Invercargill Cup field click here
Through Jonny Turnerfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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