Lazarus to set Cambridge Raceway alight for harness fans

Mike Bain Reporter from Cambridge Edition

Lazarus comes to town to light up harness racing at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night.

Greyhound star Thrilling Boris set the raceway alight last week and now it's the turn of the super star pacer.

This week it is all about Lazarus and his assault on the $60,000 Group II Waikato Flying Mile.

It will be a special night for Sue Barrington of Palmerston North and her lucky friends along with thousands of harness fans.

The owners of Lazarus – Phil & Glenys Kennard, Trevor Casey, and Kevin Riseley offered 10 per cent of any stake Lazarus wins in the Flying Mile.

The winning stake (10%) is $2,550 which Barrington won in a competition at the club's December meeting.

Harness Racing Waikato has also donated a hospitality package for six guests and the lucky lady also gets to meet and greet Mark Purdon and Lazarus, and will also be presented with a framed photo to remember the occasion.

The concept was the brainchild of Casey who consulted his fellow owners and they were totally behind the idea.

He said he remembered when the owners of Auckland Reactor did the same in the Flying Mile in 2009.

"I was on track that night and the club got a huge crowd. I was also there when Christian Cullen (1999) attracted big numbers as well. We need the big crowds back on track and I'm sure Lazarus can pull them," he said.

Casey wants to see a big crowd on the night because to see the 10 length New Zealand Cup winner.

Lazarus hasn't fronted since that amazing victory on Cup Day but has arrived safely in Cambridge after a delayed Cook Strait crossing.

Purdon took him to Alexandra Park for a workout last week and believes the horse took great benefit from the outing.

Last Friday it was billed as a "night of stars" and that's exactly how the recent big ticket greyhound meeting panned out at Cambridge.

Thrilling Boris comprehensively destroyed his rivals in the Waikato Classic final, winning the Group II event by a convincing 9.5 lengths, clocking 25.17s.

It was a power-packed display by the Karen Walsh-trained, Gary Harding-owned greyhound.

"I'll sit back and talk over the immediate plans for Boris with Gary," Walsh said after the win.

Those plans might include an Australian campaign, targeting some big money Group 1 events.

His owner and trainer rate Thrilling Boris, a son of Collision and Thrilling Angel, as potentially the best greyhound they have been associated with which is a huge rating when looking back at the prolific list of quality chasers they have produced.