Racing: Lazarus performs miracle in Sires Stakes

Mark Purdon driving Lazarus (outer) beats Natalie Rasmussen driving Chase The Dream in yesterday's Sires' Stakes Final. Photo / Getty Images

Any punters with a win bet on Lazarus with 300m to go in yesterday's Sires' Stakes Final would have been urging him to live up to his name -- he did.

The Bettor's Delight three-year-old was flat out on the canvas at the turn as stablemate Chase The Dream stole a three-length break in the $170,000 dash.

But, true to his name, Lazarus found another gear in the last 200m, wearing down the Natalie Rasmussen-driven Chase The Dream to win by a short neck as they blazed home in 26.8s for the last 400m.

Lazarus provided the All Stars Stables training juggernaut with one of six wins on the day. For any other stable, the sextet would be staggering. For the All Stars, it is what harness racing fans have come to expect after seven wins on NZ Cup day last year.

Part-owner Glenys Kennard had not quite given up hope on the turn with co-trainer/driver Mark Purdon in the sulky, but she was not far off.

"I was thinking 'I don't think he can catch Natalie' -- I was wrong," Kennard said.

Lazarus had been given a good break after his Harness Jewels win in late May, so had just the one chance to make the sires stakes in the final heat on October 23. "You worry sometimes whether you've left your run a bit late," Kennard said.

"But Mark and Natalie being the masters that they are, they timed the run to perfection." Lazarus and Chase The Dream will now head to Auckland for the Christmas riches there, a carnival also on the agenda for yesterday's trotting star Monbet.

His speed and driver Ricky May's patience saw him stomp to victory in the day's first group one, the New Zealand Trotting free-for-all.

After drawing barrier two, the lead was not there for May especially after some traffic problems shortly after the 1950m start point.

"I didn't want to hurry him early, then Uncas broke so that wasn't really the order of things," May said.

"He's outstanding -- he's going to be the best trotter I've ever driven and I've driven a few good ones in my life." Monbet will be allowed to miss Friday's Dominion Handicap, with yesterday his grand final for this carnival, meaning he can dodge Stent and Master Lavros over 3200m.

But trainers Greg and Nina Hope will bring him north for the Alexandra Park and Cambridge feature trots and if he can claim the scalp of Stent during the summer they may have to consider the Australian riches in February and March.

Have Faith In Me was erratic but victorious in the group 3 free-for-all.

Last year's champion three-year-old seemed to lose focus every time he went around the bend at the top of the home straight.

"Once he gets going, he's good," said driver Tim Williams. That could be the understatement of this year's New Zealand Cup day.