Eye Keep Smiling. Photo by Club Menangle
Two mares considered among the best in the country will be striving to extend their winning streaks when they headline Pacing for Pink Night at Menangle on Saturday.
Unbeaten Victorian trotter Keayang Zahara heads to Sydney for the first time since completing last year's NSW Oaks and Derby double to contest the Macarthur Mile while in-form mare Eye Keep Smiling chases another victory at the highest level in the Queen Elizabeth II Mile.
They are two of four Group 1 races for the girls on a bumper program, with the fillies doing battle in Oaks races for the pacers and the trotters.
Keayang Zahara returns to Menangle as one of the pin-up horses of Australian harness racing having won all of her 15 starts including last year's triumphant trip across the Tasman where she won The Ascent slot race as well as the New Zealand Oaks and Derby double.
She warmed up with a resuming win at Melton last week and while the margin wasn't huge it was her first outing since December so the hitout will have improved her and she is hard to tip against.
Im Ready Jet gave Keayang Zahara a scare last week, leading and fighting well to finish a head behind her. A wider draw won't make it easy to turn the tables but she won this race last year so must rate highly.
Susan Is Her Name has been dominant in winning her three starts at Melton since a spell. She takes on a stronger bunch but draws well and is two from two at the distance while Golden Sunset also faces a jump in class but draws the inside and it's hard to knock her Brisbane form where she has won seven of her last eight starts.
Eye Keep Smiling has become one of the best and most reliable mares in the country having stretched her winning streak to five despite racing wide in last week's Robin Dundee where she came from the same barrier she is likely to start from in the Queen Elizabeth II should emergencies come out.
That took her record at the mile to nine from 14 and while she may have to work again she is good enough to do it and win.
Rakero Rebel did a great job to come from wider than Eye Keep Smiling for second last week. She has won four of seven at this distance and a lower draw gives her the chance to turn the tables.
Sweet Bella was an eye-catcher when showing good improvement to place last week. She is unbeaten in three third-up attempts so should be peaking.
Sweetnikkilou hasn't had a lot of luck of late but draws to enjoy better favours this time while Pandaia took a big step up with her last-start Sibelia Stakes win so deserves respect from the low draw.
Progressive filly Luv The Nitelife is one of four NSW Oaks runners for leading Victorian trainer Emma Stewart but looks the one with the most upside and the best draw.
She stretched her unbeaten run to three last start when visiting Menangle for the first time and proving too strong for some of her Oaks rivals, coming from the same barrier for a tough win in the Golden Easter Egg.
It's not an easy task stepping up to this level at just her fourth start but the stable knows what it takes to win these races.
Soho Americano looks the main rival as she has been terrific this time in with six wins and three placings from nine starts.
She overcame a wide barrier to return to winning form in last week's heat and led from a similar draw to this to win the Raith Memorial here earlier in the preparation.
Ivseenheavenslight couldn't see it out after leading in her heat but she only went under by 1.2m. She won three in a row prior including last season's G1 Vicbred final so she is classy and will be at peak fitness.
Gunna Reload and Sugar Pie Honey are reliable fillies coming off placings last week and both draw well enough to feature in the finish.
A good draw gives smart Victorian Gatesys Gem her chance to land a Group 1 in the NSW Trotters Oaks. She was a beaten favourite when resuming but that was against older rivals and from a wider draw so the effort had merit and she won her only-second up attempt so should be improved.
She mixed it with the best young trotters last season and that form would see her hard to stop from the ace draw.
Why Tanya Sue is the big query having joined Stewart since winning her only two starts in Brisbane last season. She hasn't raced for more than 10 months but won her latest trial and looks talented.
Keayang Kurki bettered some smart male trotters for a resuming win at Geelong and beat Gatesys Gem for a G1 win in the Vicbred final last season so looks to offer some value while Tracy The Jet draws wide but has come back in fine order, winning both starts since a spell and could be ready for this level.
