IT’S on … the first clash between Australia’s two best trotters Keayang Zahara and Gus.
The star pair will meet in Saturday week’s $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle.
The race has long been a target of Gus, but Keayang Zahara’s co-trainer Paddy Lee has just confirmed her trip.
“It looks like Zahara will be one of three we take up,” Lee said. “(Jilliby) Ballerini and Imperial Monarch will likely go too.
“It’s not ideal, but with Zahara and Ballerini being set for NZ, we can’t miss this race and risk not being able to get another lead-up run into them before they go to Cambridge next month.
“There’s a real chance the (trotting) free-for-alls in Melbourne won’t stand-up.”
The $NZ600,000 Trot Slot is the NZ target at Cambridge on April 10.
The Lee/Craven clan have two slots and it now looks close to certain Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini will be their runners.
Gus is also headed to Cambridge.
It will mark an exciting return to NZ after he really stamped himself with a stunning Group 1 double – Dominion Trot and NZ Trotting free-for-all – in the space of four days during last November’s iconic NZ Cup Week.
Gus had a spell after that and has returned with two brilliant wins, the latest at Albion Park last Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Keayang Zahara has stretched her record to 26 wins from 27 starts, including 14 Group 1 wins, the latest in last Saturday night’s Just Believe Grand Prix at Melton.
“Gus is flying. It’ll be a great clash,” Paddy Lee said.
This will be Keayang Zahara’s first trip to Menangle since suffering the only defeat of her career when second to Susan Is Her Name in the Group 1 Macarthur Mile on May 10, last year.
She had been to Menangle previously for two Group 1 wins in the NSW Trotters Oaks and Derby back in May, 2024.
Gus has raced at Menangle just once for a third in the Menangle Park Trotters’ Cup off a 10m handicap on September 27, last year.
There’s no doubt he has gone to a whole new level since.
