Any punters with a win bet on Lazarus with 300m to go in yesterday's group 1 sires' stakes final would have been urging the 3yr-old to live up to his name.
Guess what - he did.
The Bettor's Delight 3yr-old, co-bred by Gavin Chin, of Mosgiel, was flat out on the canvas at the turn as stablemate Chase The Dream stole a three-length break in the $170,000 dash.
But, true to his name, Lazarus found another gear in the last 200m, wearing down the Natalie Rasmussen-driven Chase The Dream to win by a short neck as they blazed home in 26.8sec for the last 400m.
Lazarus provided the All Stars Stables training juggernaut with one of six wins on the day.
For any other stable, the sextet would be staggering.
For the All Stars, it is what harness racing fans have come to expect after seven wins on New Zealand Cup day last year.
Part-owner Glenys Kennard had not quite given up hope on the turn with co-trainer-driver Mark Purdon in the sulky, but she was not far off.
''I was thinking `I don't think he can catch Natalie'. I was wrong,'' Kennard said.
Lazarus had been given a good break after his Harness Jewels win in late May, so had just the one chance to make the Sires Stakes in the final heat on October 23.
''You worry sometimes whether you've left your run a bit late,'' Kennard said.
''But Mark and Natalie being the masters that they are, they timed the run to perfection.''
Ricky May also timed his run to perfection in the group 1 New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all, sending Monbet for home at the 400m to overpower his rivals.
After drawing barrier 2, the lead was not there for May especially after some traffic problems shortly after the 1950m start point.
''I didn't want to hurry him early, then Uncas broke so that wasn't really the order of things,'' May said.
''He's outstanding. He's going to be the best trotter I've ever driven and I've driven a few good ones in my life.''
Tim Williams will probably never sit behind a better horse than Have Faith In Me, who was erratic but victorious in the group 3 free-for-all.
Last year's 3yr-old male pacer of the year seemed to lose focus every time he went around the bend at the top of the home straight.
''I wish he would concentrate at times,'' Williams said.
''I'm sure it will come, but he does it too easy for himself and half-forgets what he's doing.
''Once he gets going, he's good.''
That could be the understatement of this year's New Zealand Cup day.
