The Lazarus Effect Makes Winning Start To Northern Campaign

The Lazarus Effect (NZ) (Lazarus) made a winning start to his northern campaign when taking out the Group Three Lincoln Farms Founders Cup FFA (1700m) at Alexandra Park last Friday night.

The Bob Butt-trained and driven five-year-old has shown plenty of ability in the south, winning eight of his previous 14 starts, including the Listed NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales Aged Classic (2400m), and he was runner-up in the Group One The Christian Cullen 4YO Classic (2600m) and Group One Invercargill Cup (2700m).

The son of Lazarus drew perfectly in one for his northern debut, and while beaten for early speed off the mobile arm, Butt was content to take the trail behind Sooner The Bettor (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

The Lazarus Effect got an economical trip in transit before coming off the leader’s back at the 200m to power away to a length victory.

Butt was rapt to get the win against a handy line-up.

“He did everything right. He got a good draw and he zipped home well,” Butt said.

“We were smoking early and it shows how much gate speed Sooner the Bettor has got, Harry (Orange, driver of Sooner The Bettor) came flying across. The race worked out perfectly and I was rapt that we hit the line well.”

Butt said he will likely back The Lazarus Effect up at Alexandra Park on Friday.

“There is a race for him next week as long as he pulls up well,” he said. “He is up here to harden up against the good horses. I thought a trip away up here with some hard races would do him good.”

The Lazarus Effect is the first foal out of unraced Art Major mare Brook Street, and was offered through Dunvegan Lodge’s 2022 NZB Standarbred National Yearling Sale at Christchurch where he was purchased for $57,500 by Alabar, who formerly stood his sire Lazarus.

The Lazarus Effect has now won nine of his 15 starts to date and has earned nearly $180,000 in prizemoney.

Vendor	Dunvegan Lodge
Purchaser	Alabar (NZ) Ltd
Owner(s)	Alabar Racing Syndicate 2022
Breeding	Lazarus - Brook Street
Sale	2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($57,500)
Breeder(s)	M D Pierson,Mrs M W Pierson