Lazarus returns
Five open-class pacers have accepted for the $50,000 Canterbury Classic (2600m stand) at Addington on Friday night, including last year’s NZ Cup winner Lazarus (drawn three) and his fast-rising stablemate Heaven Rocks (unruly one), who are fresh-up for the new season.
Heaven Rocks beat Lazarus at the Rangiora workouts last week and appears the more forward of the two stars.
The All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have two other runners in Dream About Me (one) and Have Faith In Me (unruly two), with the Greg and Nina Hopetrained Seel The Deal (two) the only outside challenger.
The race was in danger of being canned until Purdon stepped forward to nominate Lazarus and Deam About Me who were both not originally nominated. The first three placegetters receive automatic qualification for the New Zealand Cup on November 14.
Meanwhile Canterbury drivers Robbie Close (three days) and Bob Butt (four days) were both suspended for excessive use of the whip at Motukarara on Sunday.
Close was driving Kylie Ann (third) and Butt was driving Stompem (second). Trainerdriver Robbie Holmes was fined $300 after admitting excessive whip use driving maiden trotter Southern Alps (fourth) at the same meeting, while Nathan Purdon copped the same fine for his drive behind Bettor Than That (second).
Drivers are only allowed to hit their charges with the whip 10 times in the last 400m.
Southern driver Andrew Suddaby was suspended until October 7 for excessive use when driving Evangaline Franco (fifth) at Winton last Thursday.