Lazarus 2YOs shine in both hemispheres

Living legend Lazarus had a wonderful weekend with his two-year-olds stepping up to the plate in both New Zealand and America. 

At Addington on Friday night Joey Arden was successful in a strong field of two-year-olds, leading from the early stages for driver Anthony Butt, the rangy son of Lazarus was bold in the home straight, holding off the late challenges by the opposition to win by a head. 

Having just his second start, Joey Arden had made his debut at Gore against older opposition and finished a good third after racing greenly on the final turn. He took that trip away and race experience to Addington where it paid dividends. 

Trained by Steven and Amanda Telfer, Joey Arden by purchased by Stonewall Stud and bred by Arden Lodge.

Out of Somebeachsomewhere mare, Crackabeach, Joey Arden was a bit of a bonus for John and Judy Stiven.

"Mark Smith sent us a list of mares for sale, and Crackabeach was on it," John explained. 

"We only had one Somebeach mare and we really wanted another, so we purchased her in foal to Lazarus."

Crackabeach is out of six-win mare and great producer, Impish, so provided a lot of depth to her pedigree page. 

"Judy made the comment when Joey hit the front on Friday, oh no he's made the lead. We thought he had done too much work early, but he really dug deep in the straight."

"It was a great drive by Anthony to pinch a soft middle quarter, but for the horse to be able to do it at both ends is great."

"We saw him at Gore and he was looking like he had three-year-old written all over him. I was talking to Mandy (Telfer) over the weekend and they have turned him out for 8-10 weeks to develop a bit more. So that's very encouraging."

Remarkably, Joey Arden was the 21st individual horse to win this year for Arden Lodge. 

"We feel very connected to them even when we sell them, there wouldn't be many Friday nights we aren't in front of the television watching an Arden horse race somewhere."

"For the small amount we breed we are very proud of the results we have had this year."

Following that win, Lazarus produced two-year-old filly Sterl The Pearl to win on debut at The Meadowlands on Saturday NZ time. 

Trained and driven by Joe Bongiorno, Sterl The Pearl had bought trial winning form to her debut in the New Jersey Sires Stakes Platinum heat.

After obtaining a trip in the trail, the daughter of Lazarus had to find every ounce of courage to run down the breakaway leader, Butterfly Effect, roaring past her in the final 10 metres to secure the win in 1.53.

"I really like her," Joe Bongiorno told Wai Eyre Farm. 

"She' been a super professional filly since day one, she is small but mighty."

Sterl The Pearl will continue through the New Jersey Sires Stakes Series before facing other features this season. 

She is out of Cloud Diva, another mare by Somebeachsomewhere. 

That cross has proven to be an extremely successful one for Lazarus at stud, producing Group One winner, Nathan Street (8 wins to date $201,000), in Australia.

And Vici ($465,892), Life's A Puzzle $376,737), Lazin On The Beach ($264,014), Wallace Hartley ($179,940) and Sono Confuso ($144,630) in the USA.