Lee stable preparing for a big Cup night at Dalvui Raceway

As expected, the Lee stable will stage a formidable harness racing assault on their hometown Terang Pacing Cup on Friday night.

The mother-and-son team of Marg and Paddy Lee will harness up three of the 11 runners in the $30,000 listed classic, with the lightly-raced five-year-old Keayang Tokyo (Captaintreacherous) heading the line-up along with Jilliby Nitro and Code Bailey.

However, it’s a fair bet a Lee-prepared horse who won’t be competing will be the focus of racegoers’ attention in and around the stalls on the night.

Keayang Zahara (Volstead), who lays strong claims as the most exciting trotter in this part of the world, will stroll around Dalvui Raceway in an exhibition workout between races as she prepares for her upcoming campaign.

Unbeaten in 14 starts, Keayang Zahara hasn’t raced since outclassing her rivals in the New Zealand Trotting Derby on the back of wins in the NZ Trotting Oaks and The Ascent slot race.

Marg Lee said the daughter of Volstead has returned from a seven-week spell in fine fettle.

“She has really filled out and has come back a refreshed and happy horse,” Lee said.

Lee said the Group 1 Macarthur Mile at Menangle in May is on Keayang Zahara’s immediate racetrack agenda.

The talented Keayang Tokyo, who hasn’t raced since winning at Kilmore in September, is a $4.40 second elect behind the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained $1.55 favourite Dont Stop Dreaming.

“We didn’t expect to run into Dont Stop Dreaming, but we’ve got to start somewhere and it’s our hometown cup,” she said.

Lee shed some light on Keayang Tokyo’s 13-start career to date.

“He got kicked by another horse and injured a hock as a three-year-old, which meant more than a year in the paddock. And we decided to give him a good spell after the Vicbred series last year,” she said.

“We have looked after him and this campaign will give us more of a gauge on how far he will go.
He’s pretty fit and he should be thereabouts on Friday night.”

The stable also has a two-pronged attack in the Matthews Petroleum Terang Trotters Cup, with Great Southern Star Final placegetter Keayang Chucky a pronounced $1.60 favourite.

Lee said the son of Love You was unlucky not to finish closer in the Group 1 showdown.

“He received some interference which may have cost him the race,” she said.

Lee believes Keayang Chucky has improved since finishing runner-up behind The Locomotive in the Trotters Inter Dominion Grand Final in December.

“They often improve after they’ve been away and I think he has too,” she said.

The Lee stable is gearing up to have an enviable muster heading north to contest this year’s trotting Inter Dominion series at Albion Park, with Keaying Zahara a likely headline act.

“There is a possibility she will head to the Inter Dominion,” Lee said.

Keayang Chucky will also be on the float hoping to go one better this year along with last year’s placegetter Keayang Stuka, Imperial Monarch and Aldebaran Vera.

by John Dunne for Harness Racing Victoria