Blowing the budget pays dividends
As a successful restaurateur Trevor Casey knows you have to spend money to make it but he’s not a fan of breaking budgets either.
But going $25,000 over budget back in February 2014 to purchase lot 153, a strapping looking colt, at the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale has proved to be one of the best collective decisions Casey, Kevin Riseley and Phil and Glenys Kennard have ever made.
That colt, out of Studholme Bloodstock‘s draft, was labelled Better Than The Best but is now known as Lazarus - aka the $1.75 favourite for Tuesday’s $750,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup.
The Kennards officially purchased Lazarus but it was already arranged that Casey and Riseley would buy in.
The group’s budget for the Bettor’s Delight colt out of Christian Cullen mare Bethany was $50,000 but they had to go to $75,000 to secure their purchase.
‘‘At the time I thought ‘oh jeez, we’ve gone over a bit’,’’ Casey quipped. ‘‘But back since.’’
The idea of bringing another I haven’t looked partner into the arrangement to cover the extra $25,000 was even considered for a short time before being shelved.
Bred by Brian West of Studholme and Gavin Chin, Lazarus has already gone on to win more than $950,000 and, in just the early stages of his four-year-old season, the surface of his potential has barely been scratched.
And when his racing career does finish, there is a high possibility he will be a sought-after stallion.
Co-trainer Mark Purdon labelled Lazarus the best colt of the high-quality Studholme draft and Casey was keen on him too.
‘‘I really liked him, especially
‘‘You try and keep your feet on the ground but I know he could go on to be something phenomenal.’’ Trevor Casey
on breeding. It was a family I really wanted to get into,’’ Casey said.
Lazarus has won 17 races from 20 starts.
Casey said it may look like Lazarus could be as good as horses like previous multiple New Zealand Cup winners Il Vicolo (twice), and Terror To Love (three times), but his ownership team refuse to get ahead of themselves because he has not reached those dizzy heights yet.
‘‘You try and keep your feet on the ground but I know he could go on to be something phenomenal.
‘‘To get a horse this good is incredible,’’ Casey said.
A five-time Group I winner, Lazarus, trained by Purdon in partnership with Natalie Rasmussen, has handled the step up to the big boys with ease. He ran third in the New Brighton Cup behind Franco Nelson and Christen Me before winning Group II races, the Canterbury Classic and Ashburton Flying Stakes, as he marched towards the cup.
Despite the race being the pinnacle of the sport in New Zealand and the pressure being on because Lazarus is such a dominant favourite, Casey won’t be too nervous as it draws closer to the 5.17pm start time.
He has been around racing long enough to know there is no such thing as a certainty but he hopes for favourite punters sake that Lazarus can deliver.
Casey also holds shares in Sky Major, who spent much of last year’s cup lead-up as favourite before running a disappointing 11th.
But Casey says it won’t be a failure if Lazarus does not win given he is only four. Seemingly the only kink in Lazarus’ armour is that he is yet to be tried over the 3200m trip.
‘‘Quite often that extra 600m can be a challenge so it could find us out, you just don’t know,’’ Casey said.
But on Lazarus’ performances to date that looks unlikely.