Weekend of winners for Lazarus worldwide

It was another weekend to remember for Lazarus, as he produced two winners in New Zealand from just three starters.

Lazarus

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Two-year-old We Will Rise Again impressed at Alexandra Park on Friday night, leading throughout to pick up his first win in just three starts.

The son of Lazarus started as a warm $2.40 favourite off the back of two third placings earlier in the season, including one at Group One level in the Cardigan Bay Stakes.

After burning the late with exceptional gate speed to lead from barrier four, driver and co-trainer Scott Phelan was able to dictate terms for the majority of the race, despite some mid race pressure.

Allowing the gelding to roll up the tempo at the 400m, We Will Rise Again cleared out to a five-length advantage and held gamely as the late challenges arrived in the home straight.

We Will Rise Again is out of Sunshine Beach mare, Gracelands Rose, who herself is a daughter of the great mare, Tupelo Rose.

He was bred by Dr Ian Mackay and Ross Mackay, who have also bred Arose out of Gracelands Rose, a Lazarus three-year-old filly who has placed three times to date.

On Sunday at Gore Lazarus was also successful with Just A Gem, a three-year-old filly trained by Matty Williamson in Oamaru.

Just A Gem had indicated that a win was not far away after a gallant second last weekend at Winton, and was sent out a $3.20 favourite in the maiden mobile pace over 2200m.

After a storm earlier in the afternoon, the track was slushy and presented challenging conditions.

However Just A Gem was driven positively by her trainer, burning off the gate from barrier three to assert herself to the lead soon after the start.

Entering the home straight Just A Gem soon found herself under siege from the opposition, but once the blinds were pulled she kicked on gamely to pick up the first win of her career.

Just A Gem was bred by Gerald Cayford, and is out of Ballroom Jewel, an unraced mare by McArdle from the family of Port Medley.

In Australia former Group Two winner Soho Darknstormy was back at his best, leading throughout over 1720m to win at Melton on Saturday night.

The four-year-old son of Lazarus is well known for his ability to set terms in front and run a bold race and held off race rivals in a 1.54 mile rate, winning with ears pricked.

Soho Darknstormy has continued to compile a diligent career race record, now the winner of 8 races from 38 starts, and has placed 4 times for $131,590 in stakes.

Soho Darknstormy is out of New Zealand mare, The Blue Lotus, who is by Grinfromeartoear.

Meanwhile in North America, two-year-old Jerzy George continues to go from strength to strength.

After winning divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes at The Meadowlands, the son of Lazarus ventured to Harrah’s Philadelphia on Saturday and was successful.

Send out a very short favourite, Jerzy George also found the lead early over the mile and set terms before running away with a dominant victory in 1.54.4.

Jerzy George has now won three of his six starts, and looks set to develop into a promising three-year-old next season.

He is out of Holy Trinity, a mare by Captaintreacherous.

Lazarus also recorded wins in the United States on Monday morning New Zealand time, with a winning double at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Rise Up Deo is a three-year-old gelding out of an American Ideal mare, and won in 1.54 at odds of 25-1.

While Knockin Out is a six-year-old from the first crop by Lazarus, and won in 1.52.1. He is out of an Ashlee’s Big Guy mare.