AFTER crossing the line in third in Friday night’s Inter Dominion grand final, Bathurst product Todd McCarthy was the first to shake the hand of trainer-driver Mark Purdon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While McCarthy did all he could to see Tiger Tara win the $1.1 million classic at Gloucester Park, he knew he was beaten by a special horse in Purdon’s Lazarus.
Starting as the $1.90 favourite, Lazarus was one out and two back early before making a move to sit in the death outside Tiger Tara ($7.20) with just over two laps to go.
McCarthy had pinched a 99.9 seconds lead time in the 2,963 metres contest and had the Kevin Pizzuto trained horse travelling well after securing the lead from barrier one.
Tiger Tara had beaten Purdon’s champion five-year-old in the heats of the series and McCarthy was looking to repeat that success.
But through the final bend Lazarus drew level with McCarthy’s chance and then ran away from the field down the straight.
Clocking 27.4 and 27.2 splits in the run home, Lazarus picked up his 14th Group 1 win.
“He is the best horse I have ever trained”, Purdon said post-race.
He finished 4.1m clear of Chicago Bull ($4.60) who was able to get past a tiring Tiger Tara after spending a bulk of the journey in the trail.
Tiger Tara did well to hold on for third, a further 1.6m back, to give McCarthy his second top-three finish in the biggest race on the Australasian Harness Racing calendar. He previously Seel N Print to second in 2014.
