Volstead filly shines brightest on Vic finals night

On a night when star harness racing performers strutted their stuff across 12 brilliant Group 1 Vicbred Super Series finals, perhaps the biggest and brightest of those to emerge was Keayang Zahara.

The Margaret Lee-prepared squaregaiter kept her unbeaten record in tact with a simply stunning performance to win the $100,000 final for three-year-old trotting fillies.

Driver Jason Lee made a sustained run from his back row draw to a spot outside early leader, the also unbeaten Violet Stanford, dropped in for a breather approaching the corner and then charged past her to win drawing away by 13m.

Keayang Zahara’s mile rate of 1:56.8 was a new 2240m record at Melton for three-year-old trotting fillies.

“She’s very, very special to us,” Jason Lee said.

“I probably wasn’t enjoying it in the run, but (Violet Stanford’s driver) Nathan (Jack) made a real race of it with the two unbeaten fillies and it’s just good she lived up to how good we think she is.”

Keayang Zahara is now a three-time Group 1 winner from six starts, with prizemoney earnings up over $140,000.

Another driver celebrating on Saturday night was Jackie Barker, who claimed her first and second Group 1 triumphs within the space of half an hour when Miki To Success and Ivseenheavenslight scored for trainer Emma Stewart in the finals for three-year-old colts and geldings and two-year-old fillies respectively.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling and I’m certainly not going to forget it ever,” Barker, 28, said.

Finnish horseman Antti Ruokonen was rejoicing after a maiden Group 1 training victory thanks to Keayang Kurki in the Vicbred Super Series final for two-year-old trotting fillies.

After the withdrawal of Sassy Galleon due to two false starts, the daughter of Royalty For Life pinged to the front from barrier seven and then handed up to hot elect Gatesys Gem, who controlled the race at the head of affairs.

But in a major shock, Gatesys Gem tired and Keayang Kurki sprinted best to give reinsman Jason Lee his second Group 1 of the evening.

“I lost my voice I was cheering that hard,” Ruokonen said.

“She’s just tiny. If she was one size bigger, she could be anything. But she’s a small horse, very tiny, but she has the speed, a good heart and tries really hard.”

Stewart finished the night with six Vicbred crowns as trainer.

VICBRED SUPER SERIES FINALS WINNERS

RIDE HIGH VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)
HEZA PUNK ROCKER NZ
Emma Stewart
James Herbertson
BROWN GELDING 4 by ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN USA out of RR SAND DOLLAR (NZ) (ROB ROY MATTGREGOR USA)
Owner(s): Aaron Bain Racing Pty Ltd, Summit Bloodstock Pty Ltd, J S Browne, C M Scott, M M Scott, R Scott, T I Lambourn, B P Fitzgerald, J Gould, P G Hastie, W A Eade, N Rantanen-Reynolds, D Reynolds, K A Tattoli, R T Curnow, B O’Keefe, A S Walsh, B
Breeder(s): E L Daly, S P Daly

CLASSIC CONNECTION VICBRED SUPER SERIES (3YO TROTTING FILLIES) FINAL (GROUP 1)
KEAYANG ZAHARA
Margaret Lee
Jason Lee
BROWN FILLY 3 by VOLSTEAD USA out of KEAYANG YANKEE (MUSCLES YANKEE (US))
Owner(s): Levarg Racing Group
Breeder(s): M A Lee, P Lee

BACK OF THE NECK VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO TROTTING MARES) FINAL (GROUP 1)
RAPID RETURN
David Abrahams
Kerryn Manning
CHESTNUT MARE 4 by ORLANDO VICI (FRA) out of NIETA (MUSCLE MASS USA)
Owner(s): Veritas Holdings Pty Ltd
Breeder(s): Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd

ALWAYS READY VICBRED SUPER SERIES (2YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)
COMMODUS
Jayne Davies
Chris Alford
BAY COLT 2 by FATHER PATRICK (US) out of AMERICAN JEWEL NZ (MUSCLE HILL (US))
Owner(s): J E (Jayne) DaviesBreeder(s): Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd

ART MAJOR VICBRED SUPER SERIES (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)
MIKI TO SUCCESS
Emma Stewart
Jackie Barker
BAY COLT 3 by ALWAYS B MIKI USA out of JO LOULEONIE (ELSU NZ)
Owner(s): R J Sellwood, J Hommes, J Minutoli, B Boyer, K Powles
Breeder(s): R J Sellwood, N R Warnett, J Hicks, B E Sellwood

CAPTAIN CRUNCH VICBRED SUPER SERIES (2YO FILLIES) FINAL (GROUP 1)
IVSEENHEAVENSLIGHT
Emma Stewart
Jackie Barker
BAY FILLY 2 by BETTORS DELIGHT USA out of HEAVENS TREND (ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN USA)
Owner(s): Aaron Bain Racing Pty Ltd, Summit Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Breeder(s): B C Edward, V A Edward

ALWAYS B MIKI VICBRED SUPER SERIES (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)
ALWAYS HOT
Emma Stewart
Greg Sugars
BAY COLT 2 by ALWAYS B MIKI USA out of OUR CELEBRITY (MACH THREE CA)
Owner(s): W T C Stewart, P S Gleeson
Breeder(s): P S (Peter) Gleeson

VINCENT VICBRED SUPER SERIES (3YO FILLIES) FINAL (GROUP 1)
SHOWSOMEJOY NZ
Emma Stewart
Mark Pitt
BAY FILLY 3 by ART MAJOR USA out of SOMEJOY (NZ) (SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE USA)
Owner(s): Aaron Bain Racing Pty Ltd, Summit Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Power Group, L J Batchelor, C Hughes, Three Wide Racing Syndicate, D J Bruce, M Shuttleworth, K A Tattoli, B P Fitzgerald, B S Hunter, F Pittelli, M Carter, N Rantanen-Reynolds, B O’Keef
Breeder(s): Miracle Lodge Syndicate

ON A STREAK VICBRED SUPER SERIES (2YO TROTTING FILLIES) FINAL (GROUP 1)
KEAYANG KURKI
Antti Ruokonen
Jason Lee
BAY FILLY 2 by ROYALTY FOR LIFE (US) out of HILARY HILL (MUSCLE HILL (US))
Owner(s): M A Lee, T L Ross, Levarg Racing Group, A Ruokonen
Breeder(s): Staffordshire Park

E L TITAN VICBRED SUPER SERIES (3YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)
DEREK THE JET
Nathan Jack
Nathan Jack
BAY/BROWN GELDING 3 by VOLSTEAD USA out of CYCLONE JETER NZ (MAJESTIC SON CA)
Owner(s): R M O’Kane, G Montgomery, D A Jack
Breeder(s): Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd

ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO MARES) FINAL (GROUP 1)
SWEET BELLA
Emma Stewart
Mark Pitt
BAY/BROWN MARE 4 by SWEET LOU USA out of ILLAWONG BELLA (BETTORS DELIGHT USA)
Owner(s): B C Edward, V A Edward
Breeder(s): M L Hartnett, K P Hartnett

ECURIE D VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO TROTTING ENTIRES & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)
THE LOCOMOTIVE
Wayne Potter
Nathan Jack
BAY HORSE 4 by MUSCLE MASS USA out of LA COOCARACHA (SAFELY KEPT USA)
Owner(s): G B Holland, W R Potter
Breeder(s): Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV