What time will the fastest horse from New Zealand run on Australia's fastest track? That is the question being asked as star four-year-old Lazarus prepares for the Chariots of Fire at Menangle on Saturday night.
The winner of 22 of 26 races will start a short-priced favourite after a record-breaking season where he won the New Zealand Cup, New Zealand Free For All and Victoria Cup against older rivals.
On each occasion he has smashed the track record by a second or more and when he was beaten by stablemate Smolda in January's Ballarat Cup, it again took a track record to do it.
Trainer-driver Mark Purdon knows what it takes to run a fast mile at Menangle with Adore Me and Have Faith in Me each holding the record on the 1400-metre track in the past couple of years.
"He can run a faster mile than those two," Purdon said. "I haven't had a horse like him that can run these sort of times since Auckland Reactor was a three-year-old.
"He is clearly one of the best horses I have trained and it will be good to see what he can do at Menangle."
Lazarus only qualified for the Chariots of Fire, which is restricted to four-year-olds, when he won the Bonanza at Melton last week. He is a standout in a very good season for four-year-olds and with hot conditions expected for Saturday night and great field everything points to a fast time.
Have Faith In Me holds the track record at one minute 47.5 seconds, which will be under threat with plenty of early speed likely on Saturday and the classy Salty Robyn there to keep Lazarus honest.
"As far as time goes he could probably go 47 if he has to," Purdon said. "He is versatile, so I will drive him to win the race and the time will take carry of itself.
"He is just a very good horse."
Purdon's all-star stable also has Our Waikiki Beach and Let's Chase A Dream in the Chariots of Fire.
Our Waikiki Beach is a former NSW horse of the year, which has struggled in his two runs this campaign, while Let's Chase A Dream has won twice, going a 1.49.9 mile before taking the Brian Hancock Cup against all-comers last Saturday.
"Let's Chase A Dream is fairly nice horse, but the wide draw is going make it difficult for him," Purdon said. "Waikiki Beach is ready to hit his top after a couple of runs."
The winner of the Chariots of Fire will get an invitation to the Miracle Mile on February 25, a race Purdon could have up to four runners in. Defending champion Have Faith In Me and Inter Dominion winner Smolda will attempt to qualify for the time-honoured event next week.
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