It is almost seven years ago that a yearling colt by Bettors Delight from Bethany was consigned to the NZ Yearling Sales in Christchurch. As is the case with Yearlings offered at NZ Yearling Sales , this handsome colt was already named – his moniker Better Than The Best.
His new owners , maybe thinking the name was a little presumptuous , changed it to Lazarus . As history showed this new name fitted him perfectly as many times he looked beaten only to raise the supreme effort to gain him victory.
Harness Racing participants all across the World of pacing don’t need reminding though that he was indeed a horse Better than almost every horse of his era – 51 starts , 37 wins and prizemoney of $4,125,998 is ample proof of that.
I recall a night he was beaten as perhaps his finest racetrack performance – Gloucester Park on 12th January 2018 for the running of the $300,000 Fremantle Cup. Lazarus was parked three wide for the entire 2536 metre journey that night. When any other horse would have been crawling on hands and knees up the final straight , Lazarus actually had the audacity to hit the front only to be gathered in at the post by one of the most lethal sit sprinters in the land , My Hard Copy.
Whichever race or victory was most memorable could be debated , but no one would deny that his career was breathtaking and he will be long remembered by followers of Harness Racing in the Southern Hemisphere.
Lazarus was retired to Stud duties in 2019 and so his first foals arrived in Australia in 2020 . The re are a total of 40 foals registered in Australia [ 29 colts and 11 fillies ] and 15 of those will walk through APG Sales rings in Melbourne and Sydney in February and March. There are a further 5 being offered at the Qld and WA APG Sales .
The first crop of North American yearlings that sold at Lexington and Harrisburg a few months back were exceptionally well received by American buyers with many yearlings selling for six figure sums.
After watching many of the videos of those yearlings it was no surprise to see them selling so well and my travels thoughout NSW and Victoria to date have seen similar types to those American yearlings – dark bay or brown in colour , mostly good size with length of barrel and strong hindquarters and front ends.
Without having seen all the Lazarus yearlings that will be offered at the forthcoming APG Sales , there have certainly been some eye catching types including ;
LOT 209 Melbourne – a Colt from the Art Major mare Art De Triomphe , who in turn is a full sister to the Australian and NZ Two Year Old Pacer of the Year Follow The Stars . This colt is a half brother to one of the Emma Stewart star juvenile filly’s Petillante 1.54.3 .
LOT 193 Melbourne – a Colt from the imported Artsplace mare Catapult , who is a daughter of the $461,000 winning Western Hanover mare Miss Kitty Hanover . This colt is a half brother to two sub 1.55 pacers.
LOT 508 Sydney – a Filly from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Glenferrie Beauty , who is a half sister to the $312,000 winning gelding Can Return Fire 1.53.9. She looks like she is born to run and is both NSW Breeders Challenge and Blue Eligible.
LOT 532 Sydney – a Colt from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Lettucesomewhere , who is a ¾ sister in blood to the $500,000 winning mare Maajida 1.50.3. This colt is a powerful , highly impressive lad who looks a ready made athlete.
LOT 257 Melbourne – a Filly from the Christian Cullen mare Macey Cullen . She is a sister or half sister to the winners of $1.5 million including Mighty Cullen 1.50.4. This filly is bred 2 X 3 to Christian Cullen but is typical of the strong dark bay athletic Lazarus types.
These Lazarus yearlings will be just a few of the diamonds in a crown glittering with over 550 jewels of yearlings that will be Eligible to race for a total of $3.25 million worth of prizemoney.
The first of the NEDS APG Yearling Sales will be held at the impressive Magic Millions Complex on the Gold Coast on 23rd January. Catalogues are now available – you can order one Online at www.apgold.com.au.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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