The Lazarus Effect starts NZ Cup campaign
- admin877793
- Aug 12
- 2 min read
Trainer Bob Butt presented The Lazarus Effect for his first public appearance at the Addington trials on Tuesday, as they prepare for this year’s New Zealand Trotting Cup.
The five-year-old son of Lazarus last raced in May when he finished a brave second to Got The Chocolates in the Group One Messenger at Alexandra Park.
That run completed a stellar campaign in the north, where The Lazarus Effect won the Group One Taylor Mile, Group Two City of Auckland FFA, Group Three Founders Cup, and placed second in the G1 Messenger and second in the G1 Roy Purdon Memorial.
After a short month long spell in the north, Butt opted to bring The Lazarus Effect back home to start his preparation early for the NZ Cup campaign.
At his trial at Addington, Bob Butt was looking to get a line on the gelding to see if a start in the Maurice Holmes Vase on August 21 would be on the cards.
Making up his 30m handicap swiftly, The Lazarus Effect settled third in the running line, but the slow tempo meant Butt had to take up the role as pacemaker and ensured a swift tempo from the front end.
The Lazarus Effect was able to let down strongly in the run home, extending to win the 2600m by 2 ¼ lengths over fellow Cup hopeful Tact Mcleod, pacing the trial in 3.21.1, the final 800m in 56.2 and the 400m in 27.7.
“He did well today, had a good puff afterwards. We are still 50/50 on the Maurice Holmes but we’ll see how he goes over the weekend and into next week and make a call then,” Bob said.
Should they opt to miss the Maurice Holmes, the next possible target will be the New Brighton Cup on 4 September at Addington.
Bob Butt also presented Lazarus two-year-old gelding, Jacque, at the trials in a learners heat on Tuesday.
Jacque is out of mighty mare Lancome, and backed up his workout win last week with a solid third in the eight horse heat.
Greg and Ben Hope recently brought three-year-old gelding Major Lazarus to the Addington trials, and were successful in the non winners event.
Major Lazarus showed a great turn of foot in the sprint home, taking an inside run in the eight horse field to power up the lane to win by one and quarter lengths. He will certainly be one to follow when he makes his race day debut.
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