Lazarus brushes home in a flying 25.9

Lazarus is one of those all round racehorses that has plenty of weapons in his arsenal. He has speed to burn but can rough it as well so it gives his regular harness racing driver Mark Purdon so many options in his races.

Today at Alexandra Park in the $200,000 PGG Yearling Sales 3 Year old final, Mark flew the gate early with Lazarus from barrier five to grab the early lead before handing up to his stablemate Chase The Dream with Natalie Rasmussen in the bike.

Shandale worked to the death from his wide second line draw but he applied no pressure to Chase The Dream who got away with some quiet mid race sectionals which took a lot of the runners back in the field out of play.

Natalie upped the ante from the 600 metres and applied the after burners passing the 400 metres mark.

Lazarus was hard on Chase The Dreams back as they turned for home but it took him most of the straight to claim his stablemate close to home.

Chase The Dream was gallant in defeat with Art Form grabbing third from Shandale after being three back on the inner the whole race.

Lazarus paced the 2200 metres in 2:41.4, a mile rate of 1:58 with closing sectionals of 55.6 and the last 400 in a sensational 25.9

Todays win was the tenth for Lazarus at just his twelfth lifetime start and took his earnings just shy of $490,000.

Mark Purdon was full of praise for the son of Bettor's Delight.

" He is such a great little horse."

" He has great manners and is so tractable which means he gives you a lot of options in his races.

" He was just cruising today and felt like he could have gone a lot quicker."

" He had to really knuckle down in the straight but he won it easily in the finish."

" I think you would have to say that he is better that Chase The Dream this season,"  Mark said.

Mark and Natalie have already mapped out a programme for Lazarus with his next main mission the Victorian Derby in which he will give the Australian horses plenty to think about.

Harnesslink Media