Zahara is primed for Kiwi glory

Just for a brief moment, young harness racing driver Jason Lee let his mind wander as he watched Aussie champ Just Believe (Orlando Vici) strut to Group 1 glory in front of a packed Addington crowd on Tuesday.

Could that be him in a year or two with his family’s untapped and unbeaten young trotting filly Keayang Zahara (Volstead)?

The forerunner to such greatness will hopefully come at Addington, but on not quite the same stage in tomorrow’s (Friday) inaugural $NZ500,000 The Ascent.

Keayang Zahara is something else. Many say the way she’s blazed to win 11 wins from as many starts since she first raced in April has stamped her as the best young trotter Australia has seen,

She’s already running times most open-class trotters wouldn’t even get close to.

It’s almost assumed by many she will be the next big thing in Australasian trotting.

“She’s very exciting, no doubt about it,” Lee said. 

“She’s the best horse our family has had, and we’ve had some nice ones go through the place, but she’s the one you dream of getting. The one that makes all the hard work worth it.”

“But there’s a pressure that goes with it, a pressure we haven’t felt before because she hasn’t been beaten yet.”

“It’ll happen one day, just hopefully not when she’s racing for such big money this week.”

Keayang Zahara is a $1.55 favourite against NZ’s best young trotters from barrier three.

“Paddy Lee (co-trainer) and I just can’t fault her. There’s just no reason she won’t bring her best form to the race, albeit it’s all new and her first time away from home.

“She’s settled well, she’s eating well, even better than she does at home to be honest, and she felt great when we took her in for a spin around Addington last Saturday.”

Despite a lovely barrier (three), Lee expects the Kiwis to dish it right up to Keayang Zahara.

“I’m sure it won’t be as straightforward as some think. Like, I don’t think she’ll just be rolling straight to the front and winning,” he said.

“The Kiwis are proud. They don’t like us coming over and winning their big races. They didn’t like Swayzee and Just Believe winning the big two on Cup Day.

“They tell me John Dunn (driving Tyron Eros) is going to blast out and try to lead from the outside (gate six) and that the pole marker (Empire City ) is a nice trotter and gets out really quickly, too,” he said.

“Ideally, I’d love to drive our filly with a sit because she’s so good coming off a helmet, but they’re young trotters and if the chance came to take her to the lead, I’d do that. It’s the safest place to be.”

Keayang Zahara is one of eight Aussie horses racing on the second of the two huge days of NZ Cup Week at Addington.

The others are Just Believe, One Over All and Arcee Phoenix in the Group 1 NZ Trotting free-for-all; Catch A Wave, Better Eclipse and Aroda in the Group 1 NZ Pacing free-for-all; and Hes From Heaven in the $500,000 The Velocity.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia