The clash of the Volsteads

Oamaru harness racing horseman Phil Williamson knows the enormity of facing freak Australian trotting filly Keayang Zahara tomorrow at Addington but he’s up for the challenge.

“They’re saying it’s a horse like they’ve never seen before so we’ll see,” Williamson said.

The two Volstead fillies face off in the $500,000 Listed – Majestic Horsefloats ‘The Ascent’ Three Year Old Trotters Slot Race. Keayang Zahara has won all eleven of her starts and will start as super-hot favourite ahead of Williamson’s filly Empire City.

Empire City has drawn one, Princess Sadie trained by Williamson’s son Matthew will run from two and the unbeaten Keayang Zahara starts from barrier three.

“I can see blazing speed early. It’ll be full on. I think Empire City will be as fast as Keayang Zahara in the early piece. It’ll be over to Ricky (driver Ricky May) to make his mind up whether he hands or not. I would think he would, but I’m not driving her. At the end of the day if you take the trail and the other horse is way too good they were probably going to sit outside you and give it to you anyway.”

Princess Sadie also has early speed so she’s expected to get handy from the gate as well.

“With Empire drawing so well, we won’t have the gate speed to cross her. So we’ll just have to sit there and see how it plays out. I don’t think there’ll be a gap that’ll open behind Empire but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. There should be a couple of the good ones on the outside of us coming forward so she should end up with a nice run from there,” Matthew said.

He says the three year old filly is very well.

“She’s as good as I can get her but it’s just a matter of what sort of trip you get. If she gets a nice run I expect her to be thereabouts.”

Looking at Cup Day results, the Australian trained horses appear to have the wood on the New Zealanders and many are predicting the tread will continue. Time will tell.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink