Keayang Zahara continues relentless march with track record

The nation’s leading trotter Keayang Zahara (Volstead) thrilled her fans yet again when she gave her usual faultless harness racing display to take out the Group 2 $75,000 Group Harwood Grains Ballarat Trotters Cup on Saturday evening.

Unsurprisingly she started a prohibitive long odds favourite.

From the mobile dispatch Rockinwithattitude showed early speed to take up the early running. Jason Lee on Keayang Zahara allowed the mare to settle down before letting her stride to the lead at around the 1600 metre stage.

From there on Keayang Zahara was simply cruising along although Arcee Phoenix who was caught outside the leader wasn’t going to surrender without a fight. Im Bobby last week’s Shepparton Cup winner was three back on the rails.

Arcee Phoenix continued to battle away but Lee let Keayang Zahara simply strode clear on the final bend and she looked awesome down the home straight to defeat Rockinwithattitude by 11 metres with Arcee Phoenix a much improved third.

Yet again Keayang Zahara broke another track record with her mile rate of 1.56.8 including a tidy last quarter of 26.9 seconds.

Jason Lee commented after the race.

We were humming. And Arcee Phoenix looked a different horse tonight. He was up travelling in the run and looked strong. And looked like he was here to race. We probably got a bit of a breather early. I happy to roll along. She relaxed in front once we got across.

Asked about the potential $500,000 bonus that Keayang Zahara is well on the way of securing Lee admitted

You watch these races as a kid growing up. Honestly you have to get through the night and see that she pulls up well but it’s a big carrot but its been in the back of our minds.

It’s in the back of our mind to try to get to doing so.

It’s not an easy feat and we’ll just take one race at a time. We’ve had a great 12 to 18 months these are the horses you dream of getting and honestly you don’t think you are going to get them with such a good team and it could all be gone tomorrow.

Keayang Zahara is fast drawing a huge base in harness racing so where ever she goes there will be plenty of interest and support in the hope that this great mare can continue her winning run.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink