Keayang Zahara winning the 2025 VL Dullard Cup
STUNNING mare Keayang Zahara is “no lock” to back-up in next Saturday night’s Group 1 Bill Collins Trot at Melton.
As impressive as the four-year-old was winning first-up last night, driver Jason Lee said connections had some thinking to do.
“It’s just not ideal running her two weeks in a row when she’s just come back from a spell,” he said.
“The team has some thinking to do. They’ll weigh everything up and make a decision Monday night.”
Keayang Zahara, first-up since tasting defeat for the first time at Menangle on May 10, reminded everyone just how good she is.
While Inter Dominion champion Arcee Phoenix led, Keayang Zahara gave him a 40m start with a lap to go and ran him down to win, pulling clear by six metres.
“Nothing really surprises me with this mare because she’s so good, but it’s pretty amazing to do that first-up with the improvement she has to come,” Jason Lee said.
“It’s as much relief as anything. When you have a bit of a setback like she did, you just want to see them come back at their best and she has.”
Just a week earlier, it was stablemate Jilliby Ballerini who had everyone talking at Melton.
“She’s gone to another level, but she’s still got to learn to be able to race in a field and win from different spots in her races,” Lee said.
“Zahara showed tonight what she can do.”
Asked about NZ plans for one or both, Lee said: “We’re warming to the idea of taking one of them.
“Before tonight, I’d have said Ballerini was the more likely with the strong build-up and all the racing she’s had, but who knows now.
“Let’s get through next week first and then make NZ plans.”
The Lees also have the rich $150,000 Group 1 Great Square at Albion Park in December to consider.
It’s a race restricted to three and four-year-old trotters, meaning both Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini are eligible.
PHOTO: Stuart McCormick
