However, his next test in the $100,000 Group One Ascot Park Invercargill Cup at Ascot Park in a fortnight’s time will give us a better insight into where he sits.
“It will be a big step forward. He is in that class now so he has to race those races. After his run in the Christian Cullen he deserves his chance,” said trainer-driver Bob Butt.
The Group One film pits him against the Republican Party and Chase A Dream, as well as other hardened free-for-alls.
Today Butt took the four-year-old straight to the top in the $25,000 Placemakers Geraldine Cup and on arrival he had to withstand a challenge from It’s Tough and a late attack from Tanzania, who chased him down and came in with a late run.
At the end of the 2850 meters The Lazarus Effect had half a length to spare on Tanzania by a neck back to It’s Tough.
THE LAZARUS EFFECT REPETITION
“He probably didn’t feel as sharp as usual, but maybe that was because it was his first time on the grass. I never really thought he was the winner, but he stuck his neck out. His record shows he has the will to win. Often he has beaten them brilliantly and other times he has had to fight a bit hard.”
His winning time of 3-34.7 broke the race record of 3-37.8 set by 2017 winner Seaswift Joy.
“When I heard they had a speed of 2-01 miles I thought it was probably a track record. We were bowling well, but I didn’t think we were going that fast.”
The Lazarus Effect, raced by the 2022 Alabar Racing Syndicate, was bred by Martin Pearson who sold him for $57,500 at the 2022 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales.
“Credit to them. If they hadn’t been patient, he probably wouldn’t be racing. He just has to step up and be competitive with the good ones. He’s in that spot now and he’s going to go with them or he’s not.”
Some in the syndicate raced against Chase Auckland, the winner of fourteen races and more than $800,000.
“They have had a lot of success with horses like Franco Indie and Chase Auckland.”
When asked if the Lazarus Effect was the best horse he had trained, Butt was unwilling to commit.
“I’ve had some good trotters who have won Group Ones so I wouldn’t say he’s the best yet. He still has to prove himself a bit. He stepped up in my eyes into the big four-year-old (Christian Cullen) when he did a lot of work that night. I would say it was his best run, but he really took a step forward at Kaikoura too.”
After looking sharp and winning his first three starts, his undefeated record was halted.
“He won his first few races really well. Then he got beat a few times and he probably wasn’t quite right. I took him down south and he went 2-54 fresh and I think it might have affected him a little bit. We freshened him up and he was off again.”
Butt acknowledges he is blessed to have the right facilities to train the four-year-old.
“I’m just lucky that I have all the facilities that suit him. He uses the beach, the water walker and the swimming pool. If we take care of him now, hopefully we can enjoy him a little longer. He takes the cart to the beach three times a week and on his days off he goes on the water walker. I have trained him and am on the lookout for his problems. He has done the rest himself. All credit to the horse.”
After his initial preparation for Mark and Nathan Purdon, The Lazarus Effect was sent to Woodend Beach to be trained by Butt.
“Mark and Nathan gave him to me and they always thought highly of him when he was young. To be honest, when he first came to me, the vet said he probably wouldn’t make it. We just persevered and here he is. With him it’s a matter of cartilage and bones. We just have to keep him off the hard roads as much as possible. The pool and the water worker suit him. He’s as healthy now as the day he came into work.”
For full race results, click here.
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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