Aussie stablemates make their move in latest Dominion rankings

Aussie invaders Keayang Zahara (Volstead) and Jilliby Ballerini have made their presence felt in the latest Renwick Farms Dominion Trot harness racing rankings.

Fresh from running one-two in the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint at Melton, the two Margaret and Paddy Lee-trained stablemates are now sixth and seventh on this week’s leaderboard.

The pair were highly impressive on Saturday night, clearing out from what was a stacked line-up.

Last year Keayang Zahara was a dominant winner of all three starts on this side of the Tasman. She now has career record of 17 wins from 18 starts and is now a $2.50 favourite with the TAB to win the Dominion.

Jilliby Ballerini meanwhile has climbed six places from 13th on the back of her latest performance. She is the second favourite for the Dominion at $3.

The Lees have not made final decisions as to who, if either, of their star trotters will make the trip to Christchurch.

Other movers this week include the Nathan Williamson-trained Hidden Talent who has gone from 18th to 15th following a big third in last week’s Group 3 Dark Horse at Invercargill.

After finishing second in Friday’s Canterbury Classic at Addington, Don’t Stop Dreaming has moved up two places to seventh in the rankings for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Hayden and Amanda Cullen-trained stablemate Vessem was fourth in the same race, and has improved five places to 15th. Tellingly, that puts him inside the cut-off for the $1m feature.

A winner at Alexandra Park on Friday night Jeremiah also gets a big upgrade this week. The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained four-year-old is now at 22nd, up seven spots.

The rankings are updated weekly in the build up to IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington on Tuesday, November 11 with the final rankings to come out following the Kaikoura Cup meeting on Monday, November 3.

Rankings click here

From Harness Racing New Zealand