Huge night for Lazarus in New Zealand
He may only have 15 five-year-olds in New Zealand, but Lazarus made his presence known in the stallion ranks last Friday night.
With two of his five-year-old crop nominated for this year’s New Zealand Trotting Cup, The Lazarus Effect and Jeremiah, both horses put forward dominant winning displays in both islands.
The Lazarus Effect was already guaranteed a start in this year’s great race with his win in the Maurice Holmes Vase two weeks ago, but trainer-driver Bob Butt has made it known that the horse will only thrive with further racing and elected to start in the New Brighton Cup at Addington last Friday.
After a few nervous moments soon after the start, when The Lazarus Effect galloped momentarily before finding his hopples, the race soon became a formality as the favourite recovered to lead throughout.
Inside the final 800m the tempo became electrifying, with Bob Butt maintaining a strong hold on The Lazarus Effect but allowed him to step through his gears.
In the home straight once given his head, The Lazarus Effect scorched away from his rivals to win the New Brighton Cup impressively by three lengths.
But it was his final 800m in 54.1sec that blew race fans away. He recorded an overall time of 3.12.5 for the 2600m stand, in a 1.59 mile rate.
The Lazarus Effect has now won 13 of his 21 career starts, and placed 7 times for $341,430 in stakes.
Quite remarkably, his last seven races have all been at Group level (including a Group One win in the Noel Taylor Mile), and he has not finished further back than second in all of those races.
In fact, you have to go back 13 starts on his record before you find a placing outside of the top two.
The Lazarus Effect is out of Art Major mare, Brook Street, who is currently in foal to Lazarus again.
In the North, Jeremiah lined up a warm favourite in the feature pace at Alexandra Park over one mile.
The five-year-old son of Lazarus had a stellar record over the sprint trip, but had to contend with barrier six from the mobile.
Driven by Zachary Butcher for trainers Scott Phelan and Barry Purdon, Butcher did not leave things to chance.
After settling back early, he sent the favourite three wide with a lap to go working hard to find the front, but soon was able to scoot away with a dominant advantage in the home straight and hold on to win by three-quarters of a length.
It was the first winning drive back in the sulky for Zachary Butcher, after his three-month break from race driving.
The win was Jeremiah’s eighth overall from 24 starts, with ten placings to boot. He has now earned $189,000.
Bred by John and Maurice McDermott, Jeremiah is out of Flyover – a ten-win mare by Live Or Die.
Flyover has also left two-year-old Lazarus filly, Jorja, who impressed greatly on debut recording a fast finishing second at Group 3 level to Nella Keenan in a record time.
The feature wins continued in North America as Lazarus’ millionaire son, Voukefalas, was successful at Pocono Downs in 1.49.4.
The six-year-old has competed at the highest level since the age of two, and now has earned $1.1 million in stakes.
Alongside Voukefalas and his million-dollar earnings, in the US Lazarus now has one earner over $750,000, 3 horses who have earned over $500,000, 19 earners over $250,000 and 63 earners over $100,000.
His progeny to date have earned over 19 million in total in the United States.
Lazarus will stand in New Zealand only this season for a limited book at $5,000 plus GST.
For mares served at Wai Eyre Farm the service fee will including the working fee and vet fee.
We are dedicated to making breeding affordable, contact us today to discuss a package to breed your mare this season and see how we can help you.
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