Franco Motu Photo by Stuart McCormick
AUSTRALIA'S trotting queen is primed for her next New Zealand raid.
The champion five-year-old mare ticked her final box before heading to NZ with a scorching Terang trial win last night (Tuesday).
Co-trainers Paddy and Marg Lee opted for the trial instead of racing her from a standing-start at the same track last Saturday night.
“The team were really happy with that trial, she’s right where we want her,” Paddy Lee said.
Keayang Zahara is booked on a flight from Melbourne to Auckland on Saturday with her star stablemate Jilliby Ballerini, who won that Terang standing start race last Saturday.
She beat the pacers last night.
Previously, driver Jason Lee had said about driving the mare: “She feels like a rocket. She’s got gears and by that I mean gears only the fastest pacers I’ve driven over the years have had.”
Keayang Zahara will be chasing her 28th win from 29 starts and she already shares the Australasian all-time Group 1 wins with former great Kiwi Lyell Creek on 15 wins.
She is a $1.10 favourite for Friday week’s $530,000 TAB Trot where Jilliby Ballerini is $10 second favourite.
They have run the quinella in the past three races they have clashed in, including the Great Southern Star and Hammerhead Mile at Group 1 level.
Keayang Zahara has been to NZ once before when she won three feature races at Addington as a three-year-old filly in late 2024.
“The difference people will see this time is her manners and ringcraft,” Jason Lee said. “She’s always been super since day one, but she’s a complete package now. She knows when to conserve her energy better.”
Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini are part of a record eight-horse Aussie raid on the two Cambridge Night of Champions feature races.
The “advance party” of trotter Gus and pacer The Janitor will have lead-up races at Cambridge tomorrow (Thursday) night.
Queensland champion Leap To Fame, $2 favourite to successfully defend his crown in the $1 million Race by Sport Nation, isn’t due to fly across until Tuesday week.
While NZ Cup hero Kingman, who has beaten Leap To Fame three times, will have an important trial at Menangle today (Wednesday).
Dual NZ Cup winner Swayzee and classy NSW pacer Captains Knock are the other Aussie raiders.
PHOTO: Stuart McCormick
