After a fair start to the series — by his own high standards — the Mark Purdon-trained and driven star won over fans on both sides of the Ditch with a crushing track record-breaking win in the last round of heats. That has resulted in punters backing the horse into odds of less than $2 in fixed-odds markets this week.
Lazarus, who starts from barrier 2 in the 2936m race, has third favourite and possible leader Tiger Tara drawn on his inside in barrier 1 and fourth favourite Soho Tribeca drawn two spots wider in barrier 4.
Second favourite Chicago Bull’s fortunes could lay in the hands of Tiger Tara, who is drawn directly in front of him and could give the home-town hero the run of the race.
Tomorrow’s $A1.1million ($NZ1.2 million) final will be run at 1am (NZ time).
