Adam Hamilton : The Aussie invasion at Cambridge's Night of Champions

Champion Aussie trotting mare Keayang Zahara is a key part of Australia’s record eight raiders chasing the two marquee races at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday night.

Keayang Zahara and her star stablemate, Jilliby Ballerini, are well poised to continue the Aussie dominance in the $NZ530,000 TAB Trot, which has been won by the Victorian-trained Just Believe (2024) and Arcee Phoenix (last year) since its inception.

Beyond that, Victorians filled the first four placings in 2024 with Just Believe beating Callmethebreeze, Queen Elida and Arcee Phoenix.

The next year, Arcee Phoenix returned to beat Queen Elida and The Locomotive in an Aussie trifecta.

With five Aussie runners, it will be a major shock if the trophy for the $NZ1 million Race by Sport Nation doesn’t return to Australia again.

Especially after Miracle Mile runner-up The Janitor beat the best of the Kiwis at Cambridge last Thursday night.

The great Leap To Fame became the first Aussie to win the race with one of the defining performances of his stellar career last year.

He’s back to defend his crown with a superb support cast of The Janitor, Swayzee, Kingman and Captains Knock.

Adam Hamilton ranks the Aussie contenders in both features.

RACE BY SPORT NATION

1. LEAP TO FAME: As good as we’ve ever seen. Scored one of the most dominant and amazing wins of his career in this race last year and somehow seems to be racing even better now as a seven-year-old. Epic Miracle Mile win a month ago. The one to beat, as he always is.

2. THE JANITOR: This guy is going places, and quickly. Always looked like a star on the rise the past few months have underlined that with fantastic placings in the Miracle Mile and Blacks A Fake. Really stamped himself with that narrow but huge Cambridge win last Thursday. Looks primed.

3. SWAYZEE: The Kiwis know all about this guy. The champion stayer has raced in NZ twice, for two wins in their iconic race, the NZ Cup (in 2023 and 24). Beat Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup a couple of months ago. Freshened since a slightly below par Miracle Mile run, but mile racing isn’t his go. Huge chance if he draws better than Leap To Fame.

4. KINGMAN: What do we make of this superstar and where he’s at? Unstoppable late last year with those Victoria and NZ Cup wins over Leap To Fame. Beat him again in the Shepparton Cup in January, but winless in five starts since, most notably those two disappointing runs in the Miracle Mile qualifier and Mile itself. Hard to beat at his best, but how close to that will he be?

5. CAPTAINS KNOCK: Wonderful pacer who went oh close to an historic $1 million bonus when second in the Renshaw Cup last time. Always been just that tad behind the absolutely best pacers and he’s at the end of a very long campaign. He’s going to need a lovely draw and gun run to make an impact in such a hot race.

TAB TROT

1. KEAYANG ZAHARA: Justifiably being compared with the all-time trotting greats in this part of the world. The most exciting part is, even her connections still aren’t sure just how good she is … 28 starts, 27 wins (15 at Group 1 level) and still largely untapped. Fully matured now and is just so damn fast. Given she also gets a preferential barrier draw as a mare (will draw between one and three), it is hard to see how they beat her.

2. GUS: Stunning talent and another explosively fast trotter. He’s just nowhere near the complete package as a racehorse that Keayang Zahara is, as evidenced by their first clash at Menangle on March 14 when he came from last and finished fourth to her. Longer distance will suit and, if there’s a danger, it really only looks to be Gus, especially after his remarkable Waikato Flying Mile win at Cambridge last Thursday.

3. JILLIBY BALLERINI: How stiff is she to have a stablemate like Keayang Zahara? She’s a star in her own right with 16 wins, 13 placings and $362,630, but she just can’t seem to beat Zahara (second to her in past three clashes). As good as any other trotter going around and also gets the preferential draw. Huge place chance again.