Pacers just do not win the New Zealand Trotting Cup by 10 lengths.
But Lazarus is no ordinary pacer - he is a champion in waiting, if not already there.
Brutal, methodical, supersonic - take your pick of superlatives to describe the 4yr-old's record-smashing performance in yesterday's $750,000 feature.
The son of Bettor's Delight, bred by Mosgiel pharmacist Gavin Chin, took over at the 2000m mark of the 3200m test and ran his 14 rivals ragged to eclipse Adore Me's 2014 time of 3.54.6 by 1.5sec.
Mark Purdon, co-trainer and driver of the star, called Chin on Sunday night, encouraging him to come north, but a sleepless night on Monday night ruled that out.
''I was going to [travel to Addington], but I just did not sleep a wink last night, so it just wasn't possible,'' Chin said.
''To be honest, it's a bit emotional really. I'm a bit numb. I thought he would get run down because Smolda seemed to travelling peaches and cream and when he just dropped him ... I wouldn't say it was excitement initially. Afterwards, I let rip basically.''
Purdon, generally reserved, allowed himself a whip flourish 50m from the finish line, as the enormity of the dominant win began to sink in.
''I came into view of the big screen and could see he was well clear. I knew when I let him go, and I knew the speed he was going, there was nothing going past him.''
The cup victory looked in the bag by the 400m mark as Purdon let the favourite loose.
''I had a handful of horse and I could just tell I had the favoured runners covered,'' Purdon said.
''I saw have Faith In Me make a mistake down the back and saw Christen Me outside me and I could see him struggling.''
Purdon and co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen have climbed some incredible highs since they combined as a training partnership for the 2013-14 season, so the next statement really rams Purdon's thoughts home.
''This is as good as any - it could be the best.''
The Lazarus demolition provided long-time Christchurch owners Phil and Glenys Kennard with their first New Zealand Cup and a group 1 double on the day after Ultimate Machete's Sires' Stakes Final victory.
Lone Star Riccarton proprietor Trevor Casey and Kevin Riseley, of Melbourne, round out the quartet of owners behind Lazarus.
