The Lazarus Effect prepping to go early

The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus) will be one of the first of the South Island’s main chances to start a fresh campaign towards the New Zealand Cup.

The gelding last raced in the Group One New Zealand Messenger in May, finishing second behind Got The Chocolates.

“He stayed up in Auckland and only had a month off. I didn’t want to give him too big a break because he puts weight on, gets fat and he’s been hard to get fit in the past,” said trainer Bob Butt.

The winner of eleven of his nineteen races, the five year old has been one of the rising stars in this country as New Zealand fights back to make ground on Australian trained horses that have dominated Grand Circuit racing.

The five year old will head to the trials on Tuesday and providing he comes through the hit out, he’ll start in the Group Three Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington in a fortnight.

“If I think he needs another run at the trials we’ll wait and go to the New Brighton Cup (4^th September).”

Races like the Hannon Memorial could also be on the cards.

“We’ll see how he comes through those early races. He thrives on racing because he’s such a good doing bugger.”

He says The Lazarus Effect’s ability to begin quickly from the stand is a strength.

“We’re lucky he has got that but at the same time he’ll need every bit of it because it’s going to be great racing.”

Spring racing brings an air of excitement and over the next few months all the big guns will be fine-tuned for the $800,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup in November.

“It’s the best time of year leading up to the Cup. It’ll be good to see how everyone is going.”

The Cup distance won’t bother The Lazarus Effect according to Butt. In last year’s Invercargill Cup over 2700 metres, he led and set up a track record for winner Republican Party.

“He looks to be a lot stronger this time in.” 

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink