Zahara tuning up for Friday’s big dance at Addington

Freakish Victorian trotting filly Keayang Zahara (Volstead) is primed to stretch her unbeaten harness racing streak to New Zealand next week.

Driver Jason Lee was all smiles after taking the three-year-old for a spin around Addington yesterday morning.

“It’s another box we’ve ticked-off on a trip where everything has gone to plan, maybe even a bit better than Paddy (Lee, co-trainer) could’ve hoped,” Lee said.

“We didn’t ask her to do too much, but it’s a different sort of track and good for her, and I, to have a look around it.

“She worked with Arcee Phoenix and one of Nathan Purdon’s young trotters and did it well.

“She’s really mated-up with Arcee Phoenix and no doubt that’s helped her handle the trip so well.”

Keayang Zahara arrived across Wednesday and is stabled at Nathan Purdon’s stables, most famous for being the home of the “Allstars stable” at its prime.

“Paddy (Lee) has been with her the whole time and he’s been so happy with her. She lost a bit of weight, as you’d expect with two flights to get here, but she’s settled in and is eating up really well. Paddy says eating even better here that at home.

“After the workout, I’d have to say there’s no reason she’s not at least as good as she’s been all campaign.”

Incredibly, Keayang Zahara only had her first start at Maryborough on April 3.

She’s since won 11 races on end, including five at Group 1 level.

Her NZ Cup Week target is the $NZ500,000 The Ascent at Addington on Friday.

“I’m glad we’ve come over with plenty of time to settle before the race,” Lee said.

“It’s hard to know tactics until we see the draw. I do think she’s better following a helmet at this stage, but we may also just have to drive her like the best horse to take luck out of the equation.

Keayang Zahara hasn’t raced since winning the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby at Maryborough on October 27.

If she runs as hoped in The Ascent, Keayang Zahara will stay in Christchurch for the NZ Trotters’ Oaks and Derby.