By Adam Hamilton
Newly-crowned Inter Dominion champion Lazarus will stifle betting from an ideal draw at his return to racing on Friday night.
The Gloucester Park meeting also marks the return to race driving for Mark Purdon from suspension.
Lazarus has gate two in a field lacking any real big names over 2230m.
It will be run at 12.50pm NZ time.
Most interest will centre around the start of the race where noted Tasmanian speedster Devendra, who returned to winning form in a weaker race last week, will try to spear out and lead from gate six.
It will be interesting to see how serious Purdon wants to get at the start from his gun draw.
Popular local Vultan Tin, who ran the race of his life for fourth to Lazarus in the Inter Dominion final, has the pole. He impressively won his only subsequent run at Gloucester Park.
Purdon is using this race to prime Lazarus for the $350,000 Fremantle Cup on Friday week and the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup another week later.
Friday night’s meeting also sees the return to racing of Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s Golden Nugget winner Ultimate Machete.
The superstar four-year-old is drawn wide (gate eight) in the fourth race, but looks to have loads of class over his rivals.
If he wins as expected, interest will focus on whether Purdon is tempted to have a crack at either the Fremantle and/or WA Cups.
Remembering Ultimate Machete had already beaten Group 1 open-class rivals in the NZ Free-For-All during NZ Cup Week.
The other highlight of Aussie racing this week is the return to Melton of megastar three-year-old Lumineer, who is a $1.15 favourite to stretch his unbeaten record to seven starts in the 3YO Classic on Friday night.
He is a clear nominal favourite for the upcoming Victoria Derby now Purdon and Rasmussen have ruled the race out for their unbeaten three-year-old Chase Auckland.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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