Champion Volstead trotter to make special appearance at Terang

Keayang Zahara (Volstead) took the harness racing world by storm in 2024, and the public will get their first look at the unbeaten trotter for the year on Friday.

The brilliant mare will be the headline act during the Terang Cup meeting even though she will not be competing in one of the night’s races.

Co-trainers Marg and Paddy Lee have agreed to showcase their stable star with an exhibition piece of work between events as they build towards a first-up run in the coming months.

Keayang Zahara is unbeaten from 14 career starts and finished a remarkable three-year-old season with victories in The Ascent slot race and New Zealand Trotting Oaks and Derby. Back home in Australia, she won five Group 1 races including the Vicbred Super Series Final and the Victoria and NSW trotting derbies.

“She’s come back in terrific order,” Paddy said. “She looked like she really enjoyed her time spelling. She’s really filled out through the barrel and the shoulder.

“She seems a happy horse at the moment.”

The Group 1 Macarthur Mile at Menangle on May 10 has been flagged as a possible starting point for Keayang Zahara’s new campaign.

The Lee stable has Aldebaran Vera (20m) and Keayang Chucky (30m) engaged in Friday night’s Matthews Petroleum Terang Trotters Cup, with stablemates Keayang Tokyo, Jilliby Nitro and Code Bailey drawing barriers five, six and seven respectively in the Terang Co-Op Pacing Cup.

The meeting will feature plenty of off-track entertainment, including kids’ activities, DJ music, face painting and an animal farm.

For more information or to book a dining package, visit teranghr.com.au or phone 0455 921 708.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV