Niggling issues aside as trotting mare claims Group 3

First up from a six-month spell Keayang Livana made a statement when claiming tonight’s Group 3 La Coocaracha Trotters Free-For-All at Victoria’s harness racing headquarters, Melton.

Plagued with “niggling issues” Keayang Livana put all her problems aside to win the feature in a personal best mile rate of 1:56.8, lowering her previous best by one second.

Trained by Margaret Lee and driven by Jason Lee, Keayang Livana made it win 11 in her 22 starts.

“Full credit to Marg and the team at home to get this win,” said Jason Lee after the race.

“She’s had a few little niggles and it was a huge job first up.

“She never raced as a young horse as she had a few little issues but she seems well not but is a day-to-day, week-to-week proposition.

“A lot of hard work has gone into her and she was just super tonight.”

Settling third last after starting off the second row, Lee made one run with Keayang Livana and that one run counted.

The speed through the 1720m event was even with the quarters run in 29, 30.6, 28.7 and 29.4 seconds.

Watch the race replay here.

“The plan is to keep her happy and healthy and in tip-top order for when the bigger races come around,” said Lee.

“Now that we have her fit, we just have to manage her and get the miles back into her legs.”

Keayang Livana is a five-year-old daughter of Imperial Count out of the Sundon mare Poignant and has now pocketed $144,610 in stakes.

Imperial Count is also the sire of tonight’s Menangle trot winner, Monaro Mia.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink