The Lazarus Effect was worth the wait

Theres a time old saying that patience is a virtue, and the members Alabar Racing Syndicate 2022 have certainly had to be patient with tonight’s (Oct 3rd) impressive winner of race one at Addington Raceway, The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus).

Earlier in the week we caught up with Bob Butt and Alabar NZ General Manager, Graeme Henley, to discuss the star trialist of the last fortnight and his much anticipated race day debut.

Read Here: Alabar Syndicate’s patience rewarded with son of Lazarus

The three-year-old son of Lazarus was a $57,500 purchase for the Alabar managed syndicate at the 2022 Yearling Sales having been selected as the pick of the Lazarus crop by the expert eye of Mark Purdon.

After showing plenty of early ability and being precocious enough to race as a juvenile, connections have suffered numerous setbacks with no stone being left unturned in ensuring a full recovery for the showy type.

That extended to a change of stables, with The Lazarus Effect being sent out to the Woodend Beach stable of Bob Butt where the sand and access to a water walker and swimming pool would certainly aid and abet an equine athlete on the bounce back from leg issues.

Having won a workout and a trial in his only two public appearances, the debutant was entitled to start a warm favourite tonight with Butt indicating the horse to be an above average maiden earlier in the week.

Drawn one at his first look at Addington Raceway, the three-year-old gelding did not disappoint his large ownership group in attendance.

THE LAZARUS EFFECT REPLAY

The Lazarus Effect showed good gate speed to hold up early before handing up to the punters second elect, Midnight Miki (Always B Miki). He would relax well in the trail for his trainer/driver and was always travelling well in behind. When Tim Williams launched at the 800m with Rock Or Bust (Rocknroll Hanover) and applied some serious pressure to Blair Orange and his charge in front, Bob Butt and connections of The Lazarus Effect would have been suitably delighted.

When the lane presented itself, The Lazarus Effect charged and sprinted best of the trio who cleared out from the remainder of the pack for a professional victory in his race day debut.

“We got a nice trip in the trail and he ran home good,” said Butt post race to Nigel Armstrong of Harness Racing Unhinged.

“He’s a bloody nice horse, hopefully it’s onwards and upwards with him. He just needs to build on a bit of fitness and hopefully a bi of racing brings him on a bit. He’s a lovely horse to have around the place,” he said.

When asked about possibly being surprised by the gate speed shown from the debutant, Butt noted he didnt know what to expect drawn one from behind the mobile.

“He only had one quiet trial from a mobile where I took him back to last and he is a bit of a casual sort of fella. I gave him a smack on the bum to wake him up and he got off the gate good,” he said.

The Lazarus Effect completed the 1980m journey in a slick time of 2:25.2 with some tidy sectionals, rattling off his last half in 56.7 and his final quarter in 27.2 with a mile rate of 1:57.9.

Graeme Henley was hopeful the horse would give his faithful connections something to cheer about tonight, and that he certainly did!

For complete Addington race results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink