Lazarus Poised To Make History

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With a first prize of $605,000 on offer in Friday night’s $1.1 million TABtouch Inter Dominion Grand Final, a win will give star New Zealand stallion Lazarus the status of the richest offspring of Bettors Delight anywhere in the world regardless of the quirks caused by currency conversion between countries.

The pre-post favourite, Lazarus has never missed a placing in his entire career and has finished first or second in 36 of his 39 starts to date. A win on Friday would take his earnings to $3,317,139.

Bettors Delight has sired 35 individuals which have each earned in excess of $1 million with 21 of them bred in North America, 12 in New Zealand and two in Australia.

His two Australian-bred sons are headed by dual Inter Dominion champion Beautide ($2,183,132). Currently the richest son of Bettors Delight is the American bred stallion All Bets Off with earnings of $3.02 million.

However, the path to harness racing won't be that easy for Lazarus as the ten starters in Friday's $1.1 million TABtouch Inter Dominion Grand Final have won 224 races and $10,746,880 in stakes – an average of $1,074,688 each.

The five millionaires in the field are headed by the 2015 Inter Dominion champion Lennytheshark with $2,872,085 and include dual New Zealand Cup winner Lazarus $2,712,139 and the Southern Hemisphere's fastest ever pacer Have Faith In Me which covered the mile in 1:47.2 when winning the 2016 NSW Miracle Mile at Menangle.

Six of the ten pacers have already won at Group One level and between them they have amassed an amazing tally of 37 Group One wins headed by Lazarus with 13 wins at the elite level.

When he won the Group Two Inter Dominion heat last Friday night Lazarus brought took his record in Group or Listed Races to 31 starts, 26 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds – never out of the top three his career.

The champion Thoroughbred mare Winx has a Group and Listed Race record of 30 starts, 24 wins, three seconds and no thirds with three unplaced runs.

There was a time not so many years ago when a time of 1:55 for a mile was seen as sensational in Australia. This year’s field has four horses with a best winning time better than 1:50.

In addition to Have Faith In Me they are Tiger Tara – 1:49.4, Lazarus – 1:49 and Lennytheshark – 1:49.1.

Only Vultan Tin (1:55.4) has a best winning time slower than 1:55.

The field in post order for Friday night’s $1.1 million TABtouch Inter Dominion Grand Final at Gloucester Park appears below.

Horse (Driver) - Starts - Wins - Earnings - Group One wins

1. Tiger Tara NZ (Todd McCarthy) - 78 - 25 - $1,136,930 - 3
2. Lazarus NZ (Mark Purdon) - 39 - 32 - $2,712,139 - 13
3. Vultan Tin (Chris Voak) - 90 - 13 - $200,956 - 0
4. Soho Tribeca (Kim Prentice) - 46 - 18 - $558,239 - 2
5. Galactic Star NZ (Ryan Warwick) - 39 - 20 - $248,037 - 0
6. Lennytheshark (Chris Alford) - 73 - 38 - $2,872,085 - 8
7. San Carlo (Rebecca Bartley) - 27 - 21 - $187,048 - 0
8. Shandale NZ (Shannon Suvaljko) - 47 - 14 - $274,505 - 0
9. Have Faith In Me NZ (Chris Lewis) - 40 - 16 - $1,444,872 - 7
10. Chicago Bull NZ (Gary Hall Jr.) - 42 - 27 - $1,112,069 - 4

(With files from Australian Harness Racing)

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