How does he get beaten?
That is the question the connections of New Zealand Cup hopefuls will be asking themselves after witnessing Lazarus dish up a crushing effort to win yesterday's group 2 Kaikoura Cup.
Sitting parked for almost the entire 2400m contest did not stop the freakish pacer from running away from his rivals and breaking the Kaikoura track record.
The race's tempo was set up by Otago pacer Titan Banner and driver Dexter Dunn who refused to admit defeat by forcing Lazarus and Mark Purdon to race parked outside them.
The tactics made for an intriguing contest as Titan Banner looked to have a chance to lower Lazarus' colours.
But on the home turn the champion pacer showed how great he is by running away to a two-length win.
Although he stopped the clock at a sizzling 2-54.3 for the 2400m standing start event, Purdon felt the mid-race tempo was rather comfortable for his star pacer so he started applying pressure to Titan Banner down the back straight the last time.
''I put the pressure on because it was a sprint home and they can all pretty well sprint as well as each other, but to outstay [Lazarus] is a tougher task.''
Lazarus did not let his his backers down, winning by two lengths over a brave Titan Banner, which sent Purdon again looking for superlatives to describe his champion in his post-race interview.
''He is just an amazing horse. He just moves every time you ask him.''
The trainer-driver, who prepares the 5yr-old with Natalie Rasmussen, signalled the horse's last hit-out before his New Zealand Cup defence would be in the New Zealand Cup trial at Addington next Wednesday.
''We will wait and see how he comes through this run and make a decision, but it is probable that he will be there.''
Titan Banner might have been defeated yesterday but could have arguably increased his Cup chances yesterday.
A fit, healthy Lazarus who does not strike bad luck is essentially unbeatable next month, but behind him Titan Banner has put his hand up as the next-best contender on his brilliant lead-up form.
The Graeme Anderson-trained pacer continues to put himself in good racing positions in those lead-up runs. If he can replicate that in the New Zealand Cup, he is an ideal spot to run second.
Classy stayer Bordeaux made it two wins from two starts this season when he claimed the group 3 South Bay Trotters Cup yesterday.
The lead was not as easy to find for driver Dunn as it was in the Kaikoura Cup, but he eventually found the front with Bordeaux with 1500m left to run.
From there, the tough stayer was always going to be tough for his rivals to catch and Bordeaux did not disappoint his favourite backers as he went on to win over stablemates The Foot Tapper and Ronald J.
