Alabar Syndicate’s patience rewarded with son of Lazarus

They reckon good things take time and the Alabar Racing Syndicate 22 will be hoping that is the case when one of the star triallists of recent weeks makes his harness racing debut at headquarters on Thursday night (Sep 3^rd).

The Bob Butt trained three-year-old gelding, The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus), was a $57,500 yearling sales purchase back in 2022 from the draft of NZ Sires Stakes Manager, Martin Pierson and his Pierson Breeding Partnership.

The son of Lazarus was the first foal of the unraced Art Major mare, Brook Street, who was a $75,000 Yearling Sales purchase of Mark Purdon in her own right with royal bloodlines developed by North Island breeder, Bruce Carter.

Brook Street is a half-sister to NZ Record holder in the ill fated The Dorchester (Mach Three) and descends from the 2001 G1 Great Northern Oaks winner and classic producer, English Elegance (Camtastic).

With The Lazarus Effect being one of just 17 New Zealand bred progeny in his first crop, many had hoped that he would be one of the flag bearers for the dual hemisphere stallion, and early indications suggested he may well do just that.

“He is a lovely horse,” said Alabar NZ General Manager, Graeme Henley.

“Mark Purdon picked him out at the yearling sales where he was in training with the All Stars 2YO’s and training down with their best juveniles and looking like he belonged amongst them.

“The week he was to go to the trials he came out of the box lame and x-rays showed a wee chop in the knee. We did the surgery on the knee but it didn’t go as straightforward as everyone had hoped so he had a much longer rehab then would have normally been the case.

“He spent a lot of time at agistment properties and people like Brian and Lesley Court did a great job with part of his rehab as well. Everyone felt because of his history, his once chance was better off being out at the beach where things would hopefully be a bit kinder on his legs,” he said.

The Lazarus Effect made his first public appearance at the Rangiora workouts a fortnight ago and showed no ill effects of some of his past issues, peeling off a 56.8 last half to win impressively after working round to get outside the leaders wheel at the 800m.

Last Wednesday he booked his ticket to the races with another impressive performance on the North Canterbury track with a three and three quarter length victory in smart time, some 7.2 seconds quicker than the 2000m qualifying standard stopping the clock in 2:29.0.

THE LAZARUS EFFECT | TRIAL REPLAY

In doing so he became the 15th qualifier for Lazarus from his diminutive first crop of 17 (88%), a remarkable effort given they are still burgeoning three-year-olds. Last Wednesday’s trial performance suggests he is a wee bit above average and on Thursday night at Addington Raceway, The Lazarus Effect makes his long awaited debut some 30 months since going through the auction ring.

“It’s great for the owners,” said Henley.

“They have been so patient with the horse because it was a long time ago we bought him at the yearling sales and I really hope they get rewarded on Thursday.

“A lot of them have been in most of our syndicates so they have had the ups and downs with the likes of Chase Auckland and other ones as well. They are a great bunch and I would love to hear them yelling at the races on Thursday night,” he said.

Woodend Beach horseman, Bob Butt, is having another fantastic season working his growing team of pacers and trotters who have posted 22 wins on the season to date.

Albeit surprised, Butt said he was naturally delighted to get a phone call asking if he would give the pacer what was likely his final shot at becoming a race horse.

“He came to my place about four months ago, just before we began this prep,” said Butt.

“Alabar gave me a ring and didn’t really set much expectations, just that they felt with his knee problems he would be well suited down here at the beach.

“We’ve used the pool and the water walker a lot and his training down on the beach and he seems to have him in a pretty good space of health. He is a lovely horse and just really easy going.

“He is a beautiful looking horse who I could see would have been a stunning colt at the sales,” he said.

Butt wasn’t sure what to expect with the strapping son of Lazarus in their first trip off the property together.

“I haven’t been able to work him really hard because of his problems. He has always done his work good and showed he’s a very nice maiden at this stage of his career,” said Butt.

“But I was wrapped with him the last couple of weeks. He zipped up good on Wednesday and I was very happy with that, they went good time and has shown he will be pretty competitive on Thursday night,” he said.

When asked whether his injury plagued history was behind, Butt was quick to point out that what the horse had been through made him very much a day to day proposition, but all indicators at this stage of the campaign suggest the Lazarus blood coursing through his veins are in full effect.

“Bob has done a great job getting him to this point and full credit to him,” said Henley.

“We had a bit of a scare a while ago with different lameness and that seems to be in the monitoring category as well. He is just one of those horses you just have to hold your breath with.”

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink