Champs firm plans ahead of Cambridge's big night

By Adam Hamilton 

There'll be contrasting build-ups for the two Australian favourites heading to Cambridge's Night of Champions on Friday, April 10.

Hotshot Zeayang Zahara will go into the $530,000 Trot Slot without another start while defending champion Leap To Fame will step out in Brisbane this weekend.

The decision not to contest Saturday night’s Terang Trotters’ Cup means Keayang Zahara will have 27 days between runs when she steps out at Cambridge.

But co-trainer Paddy Lee isn’t fazed.

“We thought seriously about the Terang race, but just didn’t think it was the right thing with the NZ trip so close,” he said. “She’s qualified from a stand, but never raced in one.

“They’ve added some trials for Terang next Tuesday night, so we’ll trial her there instead.

“Terang is our home track and there won’t be many chances to race her there now, but we will run Jilliby Ballerini instead.”

In contrast, Jilliby Ballerini has contested three standing-start races for two wins and that desperately unlucky fourth in the Group 1 Dominion at Addington last November.

Under the conditions at Terang, she gets a maximum 30m handicap and is a $1.20 favourite in early markets as she also prepares for the Cambridge feature.

“It looks like a good race for her. We will need to get some standing start racing into Keayang Zahara with our plans to take her back to NZ again later this year for the Dominion,” Lee said.

Jilliby Ballerini has finished second to Keayang Zahara in three of her past four starts, including last Saturday week’s Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle.

When the glamour pair head to NZ remains uncertain.

“We want to get there as close as possible to race night,” Lee said. “At this stage they’re on an April 4 plane, but there’s talk of a flight on April 6 or 7. If one of those happens, we’ll switch to it.

“They love it here at home and we want them here as long as we can before going away.”

Meanwhile Leap To Fame has pleased connections so much since winning the Miracle Mile he will have an unexpected race at Albion Park on Saturday night (10.17pm). 

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon was thrilled with how he came through the race and the theme has continued since getting back to his Tambourine base, just outside Brisbane. 

Had he not raced this week, Leap To Fame would have gone a month between races into the $1m The Race at Cambridge on April 10. 

"At this stage he'll head down to Sydney by road and get a flight to Auckland Easter Saturday or Sunday," Seymour said. 

Racing this Saturday night will follow exactly the same schedule Leap To Fame had to win The Race last year.