Champion four-year-old Lazarus did what was expected of him by winning Saturday's Chariots Of Fire at Menangle, but trainer-driver Mark Purdon thinks he will go faster in the Miracle Mile.
On his first race at Menangle, Lazarus clocked a time of 1:49.0, which has only been bettered by Miracle Mile winner and stablemate Have Faith In Me in the past year. It was a tough effort after a tough week, where the four-year-old experienced 40-degree heat for the first time in his life.
It might not be the record-breaking Lazarus of the New Zealand Cup and Victoria Cup but he is only going to get better after a fortnight break in the Miracle Mile on February 25, where he is the favourite.
"That will be a help, having a week off, and also [having] more time to get used to the heat here," Purdon said. "So I am certain he can go quicker than the 1:49 – and he might have to in the Miracle Mile."
Lazarus held off stablemate Our Waikiki Beach's late challenge as he got home in a 26.6-second final quarter after working to the front from the back.
"He had to travel up here from Melbourne, which meant his training was interrupted. And when he first got here the heat affected him a bit," Purdon admitted. "He has raced four Saturdays in a row, all in group ones, which is not easy. So I was proud of the way he stuck to it when Waikiki Beach came at him."
Purdon's All Stars Stable could have up to a record four runners in the Miracle Mile with Inter Dominion champion Smolda and Have Faith In Me running in next Saturday's two preludes, which offer direct entry to $750,000 group 1 for the first two home.
Our Waikiki Beach, a former NSW horse of the year, would have the inside run for one of the invitational spot, which will be announced after the Preludes
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