Connections considering offers for Lazarus

THE racing future of champion pacer Lazarus is expected to be decided this week.

It is understood the twotime New Zealand Cupwinning stallion has attracted big money offers from leading Australasian studs.

Trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen said on their All Stars stable website the horse’s owners were to meet over the weekend to discuss plans for Lazarus.

‘‘It is understood there are firm offers on the table for the horse as a stallion and one item of business will be to sort which offer is most likely.’’

Lazarus is owned by Cantabrians Phil and Glenys Kennard and Trevor Casey, and Kevin Riseley, of Victoria.

The Bettor’s Delight entire was bred by Dunedin’s Gavin Chin with Brian West, of Canterbury.

Casey confirmed to NZ Harness News that his $3.8 million earner has been the subject of stud offers.

‘‘There are continuing negotiations, but no decision has been made as to his future,’’ he said.

‘‘There are a few offers on the table but I stress no decision has been made.’’

It is believed that a decision on the champion’s future cannot be revealed until the end of this week.

The identity of the leading contender to secure Lazarus is unknown.

New Zealand’s big breeding players, Alabar and Nevele R Stud, look like the favourites.

The Auckland and Canterburybased breeding farms have previously staged successful joint bids to secure a stallion’s services, despite being competitors.

Woodlands Stud, which stands Bettor’s Delight, the sire of Lazarus, appear less likely, but is certainly not out of contention.

Woodlands and its clients possess hundreds of mares that are sired by Bettor’s Delight, which could limit Lazarus’ earning potential there.

There appears many possibilities for Lazarus, who is arguably New Zealand’s greatest pacer. The horse could remain in his current ownership and return to racing to attempt to win his third consecutive New Zealand Cup and backtoback Interdominion finals and then be retired to a stud of their choosing.

The horse could also be retired immediately by his owners and placed at stud.

Should shares in the horse be fully or partially sold he could also continue to race for his new owners or be retired to stud immediately.

Retirement would appear to leave Lazarus with some unfinished business on the track.

Though his allconquering career is almost unparalleled by any horse aged 5 or younger, two major Australasian races have eluded him. The champion has not won a Miracle Mile in two attempts and is yet to contest an Auckland Cup.

Another successful season of racing and winning those two races would edge Lazarus closer to Black’s A Fake’s Australasian prize money record of A$4.5 million ($NZ4.76 million).

While his future is being decided, Lazarus is enjoying some rest and relaxation. The horse has been spelled in the North Island and is due to return to pretraining soon.

Lazarus has won 35 of his 45 starts and more than $3.8 million in prizemoney.