One of harness racing’s most reticent figures allowed his confidence levels to rise notably last night at Addington.
Mark Purdon isn’t renowned for his outward talk about horses, he’s always just prefered to let the horse do the talking out on the track. But when Lazarus cemented himself as favourite for next month’s New Zealand Trotting Cup with a scarily easy victory in the Canterbury Classic last night, Purdon couldn’t help but give out a few compliments to his latest star.
“He’s taken to open class racing like a little professional,” Purdon said.
“In his first run he was a little bit hesitant about it all I think, including the start but he stood up there at the barrier tonight and went away like he’s been doing it for a long time.
“Everything we throw his way he seems to take in his stride, he’s some horse.
“I’m extremely happy with where we are at the moment, he’s putting it all together nicely.:
Away safely last night, Purdon moved around the field to find the lead inside the final 1600 metres.
Once there it was always going to be a case catch me if you can.
“He relaxed beautifully in front and when I asked him to sprint he really hooked into it.
“We will head to Ashburton now, he should cop the racing pretty good now I would think.”
The result, in a New Zealand record time of 3.11.4 – bettering the previous mark which was held jointly by Christen Me and Bettor’s Strike, was the perfect result for co-owner Trevor Casey on his birthday.
Casey is joined in the ownership by Phil and Glenys Kennard, who had double the reason to smile with Smolda running a great third, and also Australian based owner Kevin Riseley.
Lazarus got home a length the better of an equally as brave Christen Me who showed he is no spent force just yet with another grand effort. Smolda was back in third while Have Faith In Me was fourth.
Bookmakers have reacted to the performance by installing him a warm order favourite across the board,
Natalie Rasmussen, who drove Have Faith In Me, is starting to get concerned about the stand start manners after the Miracle Mile winner panicked and lost considerable ground at the start of the race.
“It’s an issue, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s running out of chances to get it right.
“There’s plenty of time on our side. I’m not really sure he was happy with being on the outside of the front line.
“If he was behind them it would have been a bit better I think, we just can’t afford to be giving away starts like that every time we go to the races.
“It will end up costing us if he goes like in one of the real big races, when he’s not ready, he just panics.”
Smolda will be pointed toward next Sunday's Methven Cup after his great run.
“He’s gone super, we did a bit of work to get to where I wanted to be but he knocks of and has a look around,” driver, Tim Williams said.
Franco Nelson was also very good in fifth after working wide around the last bend which isn’t really his go.
The slight concern from the race was the performance of Locharburn who failed to show his usual fighting spirit and was beaten a long way from home.
He was found after the race to have suffered from an arrhythmic heartbeat and has been stood down until a clearance is received.
Matt Markham