Lazarus leads Kiwi charge
Champion pacer Lazarus will carry the hopes of a nation and plenty of punters in the Inter Dominion final.
The two-time New Zealand Trotting Cup winner is the $1.90 favourite to win the A$1.1 million
($1.2 million) race at Gloucester Park in Perth on Friday night
(1am Saturday morning NZT). If Lazarus can win the
2936-metre Group I mobile race, he will give the training partnership of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen a second win in as many years.
The Rolleston-based trainers won the 2016 edition with Smolda.
Lazarus, the pre-barrier draw favourite for the final, was opened at $2 post the draw but has been backed into $1.90.
He will start from barrier two, outside of former Kiwi pacer Tiger Tara.
Another former Kiwi, Chicago Bull, is second favourite at $3.80, ahead of Tiger Tara at $5.
Lazarus’ stablemate Have Faith In Me is a $41 chance. TAB bookmaker Richard Wilson said there has been a steady stream of money for the popular pacer without any substantial bets since the draw on Sunday.
Wilson said the TAB had taken bets of $5000 at $2.60, $2000 at $2.60 and $3000 at $2.40 on Lazarus to win the final before the barrier draw.
Lazarus, raced by Kevin Riseley, Trevor Casey plus Phil and Glenys Kennard, ran second in the first two rounds of heats from wide draws before winning his third and final heat.
Late on Thursday afternoon, the TAB had 84 multi-bets running through the final with 81 of them on Lazarus.
If Lazarus can win the Inter Dominion final, one punter will collect a $42,500 payday from the New Zealand TAB courtesy of a four leg multi-bet.
The $250 investment on Winx to win her third Cox Plate at $1.25, Embellish to win the 2000 Guineas at $8 and Chase Auckland to take out the Sires Stakes final at $5 is alive following those three legs.
It finishes on Lazarus to win the Inter Dominion Final at $3.40.