NZ HARNESS NEWS
Kiwi star Lazarus was brilliant finishing second behind Tiger Tara in the second round of Inter Dominion heats at Bunbury in West Australia on Tuesday night.
He had to work overtime for the last lap and a quarter, circumnavigating the field on a brutal speed to sit parked outside Tiger Tara for the last half-mile.
A mid-race move by Victorian pacer San Carlo meant Lazarus had extra ground to cover at the wrong time and that proved to be the losing of the race for him.
His driver and co-trainer Mark Purdon confirmed as much in post-race comments.
“I just had to work that little bit hard getting around (San Carlo) on the bend and that probably just took its toll.
“He didn’t give up and he bridged that gap a little bit, but full credit to Tiger Tara because he did the early work.”
Tiger Tara smashed the Bunbury track record for the 2100-metre distance, shaving 1.9 seconds off Run Oneover’s mark set at the same meeting last year.
A searing 1.52.3 mile-rate and final sectionals of 54.7 and 26.5 meant Lazarus was virtually in an impossible position.
“It’s the cards you’re dealt,” said Purdon philosophically.
“We had a draw where Tiger Tara looked the leader and he was going to have to do the work at some stage, either early or through the middle stages.”
The other story of the night was the defeat of Lennytheshark in the first heat, former Southland pacer Galactic Star causing the upset with a late slingshot off a sit.
Yayas Hot Spot, who had led early and then trailed, emerged up the marker pegs to pip the $1.30 favourite for second.
It was only a narrow defeat, but it was enough to throw concern in to the minds of bookies with Lennytheshark drifting to fifth favourite for the series by the end of the night.
The third heat was taken out, in sublime fashion, by Soho Tribeca, who got a soft lead and burnt home in 54.6 and 26.2 to win.
He looks nigh-on unbeatable at present and Kim Prentice revealed post-race that the earplugs were still in.
Local hero Chicago Bull was the only one with excuses from the heat, flashing up late for third after being hemmed up three-back on the markers.
Following the night’s racing, Lazarus remained a $2.70 favourite in the main Australian market, narrowly ahead of Soho Tribeca ($3), Chicago Bull ($5), Tiger Tara ($9) and Lennytheshark ($10).
Fields for night three, at Gloucester Park on Friday night, will be out at 1.30pm today (NZ time).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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