Racing: Mudder shows determination at sticky Ellerslie

A month ago Don Dwyer was telling everyone that Lazaros was one of the best mudders around.

The going couldn't possibly be too heavy for him.

Dwyer now thinks the rugged winter galloper may be useful on much better footing.

"I think he might be all right on soft or even easy footing," said Dwyer after Lazaros scored a game victory in very testing conditions at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Dwyer had accepted with Lazaros for the $80,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton, but scrapped plans before acceptance time when he was told he was borderline on getting a start.

"I only like setting them for something I know I can make. I would have been on the road to Christchurch before I knew whether I would get a run or not. You can't do that."

The Winter Cup would have been an ideal race - Dwyer trains Lazaros for Christchurch-based trotting icons Kypros and Mary Kotzikas.

Despite starting out as an apprentice jockey, Dwyer has spent most of his time in harness racing and had not met Kotzikas when he more recently switched to training gallopers. The pair met when Kotzikas replied to an advertisement for horses to join the Dwyer stable.

Lazaros' best form has been on wet, heavy tracks and Dwyer was not sure the horse would successfully manage Saturday's sticky, holding surface in the Schofield Cup.

"But, hey, he's essentially a winter horse and if you wait and wait for the right track, suddenly the winter's over."

Lazaros was ridden by Rogan Norvall, who had earlier won on Ben Sparta.

Mohini Surprise looked the winner when he lodged his challenge at the 200m, but Lazaros was relentless and forged ahead again.

"I deliberately went a bit early on him because he has a bit of a sprint then just keeps going," said Norvall.

Ben Sparta's quality was once again on show. Caballos, carrying 7.75kg less, looked certain to master Ben Sparta, but the veteran dug deep, refusing to be beaten.

* Punters were certain Laura Tunnell had got debut jumper Starbo beaten even halfway through Saturday's hurdles at Ellerslie, but Tunnell knew what she was doing.

She covered a huge amount of extra ground on the 13-times flat winner and things got worse when Starbo misjudged a fence halfway through the race and lost ground on the leaders.

He looked no chance, but the way he ended up scoring by seven lengths you had to say even the $1.90 starting price looked extravagant.

Horses simply don't score as easily on debut.

"I knew I was covering a lot of ground, but I did it to give him a good look at his fences," said Tunnell in defence of her ride. "He was very strong."

Starbo will return to Ellerslie for next month's rescheduled Great Northern Hurdles.