CHAMPION mare Keayang Zahara’s immediate racing plans are in limbo due to her star stablemates.
Co-trainer Paddy Lee said a gallop from Jilliby Ballerini and worrying flop by Jilliby Dreamlover at Melton last night have thrown plays into disarray.
At the same meeting, Keayang Zahara posted her 26th win from 27 starts and her 14th at Group 1 level in the Just Believe Grand Prix.
“Back to the drawing board,” Lee said. “Zahara did her thing, but the other two were part of a disappointing night overall. That’s horses for you and we’ve had a great run, so we can’t complain.”
The plan had been for Jilliby Ballerini to fly the stable flag in the $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle on March 14.
She was to then have a break while Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Dreamlover went to NZ for the $NZ600,000 Trot Slot at Cambridge on April 10.
“Dreamlover gave us a scare last night. She was too bad to be true and pulled-up distressed,” Lee said. “She won’t be going to NZ now. I’d say she’ll have a break.
“We’ve got two slots in the NZ race, so it probably means Ballerini will go with Zahara now and that impacts the Menangle race.
“We were leaning towards missing Menangle with Zahara and just sending Ballerini, but after Ballerini galloped last night, we might freshen her up a bit and look towards Cambridge,” Lee said.
“Ballerini came through it fine and Glen (Craven, driver) isn’t sure why she broke. She didn’t put in a rough one (stride) or give him any warning.”
All that means Keayang Zahara has firmed to clash with Australia’s other top trotter, Gus, for the first time in the Hammerhead Mile.
Gus, who won the Group 1 double at NZ’s iconic Cup Week last November, brilliantly made it two wins from as many starts back from a spell at Albion Park last night.
“If anything goes to Menangle now, it would be Zahara,” Lee said. “It’s not our preferred option with Cambridge getting close, but we’re also mindful that there may not be many lead-up racing options for her before going to NZ and she’ll need a strong run before she heads over.
“It could be the Hammerhead is the one guaranteed lead-up option we’ll have.
“We’ve got some thinking to do. We’ll all sit down over the next day or so and finalise things.”
If Keayang Zahara goes to Menangle, she will be racing for a piece of history.
Victory will make her equal with the great Lyell Creek for the Australasian trotting record of 15 Group 1 wins.
PHOTO: Stuart McCormick
