By Adam Hamilton
Even the best get beaten sometimes.
Megastar Kiwi Lazarus had to be content with a fighting, but well-beaten second to his older, in some ways underrated stablemate Smolda in last night’s $120,000 Group 1 Ballarat Cup (2710m).
While Lazarus lost no fans after doing all the work and chasing in a scorching 1min54.8sec mile rate for 2710m – taking 0.5sec off the track record – Smolda went like a jet and gained some serious respect.
Anthony Butt picked-up the drive on Smolda when Mark Purdon opted to partner Lazarus as expected.
Butt has driven some amazing races in his stellar career and this was up with any of them.
His confidence in Smolda’s fitness and staying prowess inspired him to make the last 1200m a war of attrition.
“That’s the only way I could beat him (Lazarus). I knew Smolda was really race fit and such a great stayer, while Lazarus had only had that one run back,” Butt said.
“When I saw him coming, and Chris (Alford, driving Lennytheshark) making Lazarus work a bit to get around him (to the death seat), that’s when I really quickened up.
“I wanted to make sure Lazarus had to work really hard to get outside and then not give him the chance to get a rest when he did … I just kept running for that last 1200m and Smolda kept giving for me.”
Smolda ran his last mile in a staggering 1min52.3sec with the last there splits being 27.5, 27.7 and 27.3sec.
Lazarus was three-wide then outside the leader through that last 1200m. It was a mighty run in defeat.
On the bend, when Young Modern dropped-off a tad behind the leader, Purdon was able to drop in a few strides on Lazarus behind the leader.
When he peeled-out again most expected another late surge at Smolda, but the earlier worked had taken its toll. He didn’t make any ground on the winner.
“Smolda felt so strong. I never thought Lazarus was going to get me. I held him easily, but he did a mighty job in those times given the work he did. And you know he’ll only be better for next week,” Butt said.
“Smolda’s confidence is right up. He’ll be very hard to beat in the Hunter Cup if that’s where they go next.
“It’s great to be back on one of Mark’s good horses. I drove for him a fair bit at different times back home (NZ), but there are no shortage of top drivers he can use over here so it was really good to get the call-up to drive Smolda even if it was just a one-off.”
Smolda beat Lazarus by 4.5m with Lennytheshark closing well late for third – just 1.1m from Lazarus – after working around to sit parked midrace then sitting one-one on Lazarus.
Like Lazarus, Lennytheshark will strip a lot fitter for the run. It was his first start since a hoof injury ended his Perth Inter Dominion campaign on December 2.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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