by Adam Hamilton
Kiwi superstar Lazarus remains Perth Inter Dominion favourite despite being beaten for the second time in as many qualifying heats at Bunbury last night.
If he was solid in defeat when second on night one, Lazarus certainly stepped it up a notch with a very gutsy runner-up effort after again doing all the work in track record-shattering time at Bunbury.
But, again, he found one better.
On night one it was emerging local star Soho Tribeca who out-zipped Lazarus to win by 11m, while last night it was the tough, resilient and classy Tiger Tara who powered to an all-the-way win.
Tiger Tara’s remarkable 1.52.3 mile rate for 2100m around the 960m track absolutely obliterated the previous record set by Run Oneover at 1.53.8 in last year’s Inter Dominion heats.
So for Lazarus to sit parked, run his own last mile in 1.51.6 and go down by just 1.7m, was a monstrous run in defeat.
But the facts remain, Lazarus isn’t looking comfortable on the ends around these tighter tracks than he is accustomed to, he is winless from two heats.
The Aussie TAB still has Lazarus a $2.80 favourite for Friday week’s $1 million Grand Final from Soho Tribeca ($3) and Chicago Bull ($5).
Tiger Tara, a $17 shot before night one, firmed again from $10 to $9 after downing Lazarus at Bunbury.
Mark Purdon was clearly thrilled with Lazarus performance last night, but tempered it with some concern about how much such a hard run would take out of the superstar.
“He’s had two hard runs so far and he had to do plenty of work, especially trying to get around outside Tiger Tara. He seems to have come through it OK, but you do wonder what those sorts of runs can take out of them,” he said.
“I think that extra work I had to do when San Carlo came out in front of me and made me work around two bends to get outsider Tiger Tara could have been the difference at the end.
“But he ran a great race and he’s going to enjoy the longer distances from here.”
Todd McCarthy declared Tiger Tara’s win the best effort he had shared with Kevin Pizzuto’s stable star.
“That was some sort of win. They ran a quick lead time and it didn’t really let-up,” he said. “He’s right in the zone and absolutely thriving on all the hard racing.”
Emerging Victorian San Carlo finished a distant third to Tiger Tara and Lazarus, but he did loads of work and it was the effort befitting of the hype around him. It also kept his hopes of making the final alive and well.
The shock of the night came in the first Bunbury heat when 2015 Inter Dominion champ Lennytheshark found the front without much fuss, but was rundown and had to settle for a close third to Galactic Star and Yayas Hot Spot.
While he wasn’t disgraced, Lennytheshark had beaten that pair easily in the Victoria Cup six weeks earlier and clearly ran below his best.
“I don’t know what to make of that run. I need to go home, review the race and we’ll get his bloods done as well just to check. He wasn’t at his top tonight,” trainer David Aiken said.
The Aussie TAB eased him from $5 to $10 for the final.
Galactic Star was superbly driven by Ryan Warwick to get loose of a three-pegs trip and storm home to beat Yayas Hot Spot, who trailed Lennytheshark and got a run alongside the inside when Lenny wobbled on the home bend.
Have Faith In Me improved slightly off an opening night ninth to finish fifth, but he can’t make the final.
Soho Tribeca left Bunbury the only undefeated horse in the series when he found the front, dictated and zipped home in 26.2sec to win last night’s middle heat.
“I think I went too slow on him while trying to hold him back to the field down the back straight, so he spat the bit out and I had to wake him to get the job done,” trainer-driver Kim Prentice said.
“But I’m thrilled with that. It was a much easier race than a few of the other big guns had here tonight.”
Soho Tribeca’s hometown rival Chicago Bull gained some serious cred when he stormed home from a three-pegs pocket to finish just 2.7m from the winner in third spot.
“They clocked him running a 25.7sec last quarter and that included Gaz (Gary Hall Jr, driver) having to drag him back and go sideways to get into the clear,” trainer Gary Hall Sr said.
“I wasn’t sure I could win the final going into the heats, but on his two runs and what I’ve seen, I think he’s right in it now. His speed is that real X-factor. It was pretty special for him to make up that sort of ground in a 26.2sec last quarter.”
Tassie raider Devendra improved off a lacklustre opening night run to finish second to Soho Tribeca and keep his hopes of making the final alive.
The Grand Final field will be known after the last round of heats at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
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