All-conquering champion pacer Lazarus added another jewel to his crown when taking out the A$500,000 A G Hunter Cup in sensational fashion at Melton in Victoria on Saturday night.
He sat parked for the last mile in a track-record run 1.54.1-mile rate (2760m) effort and dug in tenaciously down the straight to defy a challenge from Soho Tribeca, who had sat on his back for the last lap-and-a-half.
As per usual, co-trainer Mark Purdon did the driving and he opted a take-no-prisoners approach – uncompromising, ruthless aggression.
Before the race, the connections of Sydney pacer Tiger Tara said they would lead and make it in to a staying test, not letting Lazarus outsprint them, like he did in the Inter Dominion Final in Perth before Christmas.
Purdon said post-race that he was up for the challenge of Tiger Tara’s trainer Kevin Pizzuto, and that’s why he gave up a one-one sit 1900-metres out to go around and eyeball the leader.
“Greg (Sugars) came around on Soho Tribeca and put the pace on for a little while but then backed off.
“So, I thought I was just going to turn this in to a stayers’ race and may the best horse win.”
That horse, obviously, was Lazarus
Purdon said he had the option to duck in to the trail down the back the last time when Shadow Sax (Gavin Lang) dropped off, but he decided against it and instead forced a 27 quarter.
“I thought I wouldn’t worry about losing ground, I’ll just keep the pressure on and make it a stayers’ race.”
Purdon said only the very elite horses would have won the race in the fashion Lazarus did.
“He’s a champion.
“I’ve said it for a long time now and I think tonight he had to be.”
The winner’s stablemate Heaven Rocks mounted a strong finish down the outside for third in the hands of Natalie Rasmussen, nosing out a game Lennytheshark.
Lazarus’ next target will be in the A$750,000 Miracle Mile at Menangle in Sydney on February 24 before a likely return home to New Zealand after three months in Australia.
