Keayang Zahara likely to stay for next week's NZ Derby
By Adam Hamilton
Glamour trotting filly Keayang Zahara “almost certainly” earned an extension to her New Zealand campaign with another easy Group 1 win at Addington last night.
There wasn’t any of the buzz of her previous win in The Ascent as driver Jason Lee “nursed” Keayang Zahara to the softest possible win in the $140,000 What The Hill Group 1 NZ Trotting Oaks.
“Maybe it’s a bit cheeky, but I was thinking ahead a bit to next week’s Derby,” Lee admitted.
“We’d been pretty light on her during the week, thinking we could go another race here for the Derby (next Friday).
“So, I had that in the back of mind and when she got to the front, I took the chance to give her the easiest time possible.
“She can relax a bit too much in front and have a good gawk around, which did at times, but she still won it easily.”
Trainer Marg Lee, who made the trip over again last night, marvelled at Keayang Zahara’s temperament as much as her talent.
“It’s like she’s been here before,” she said. “She just seems to take everything in her stride.
“Even the whole trip across here for a filly in her first campaign of racing, she’s settled in like a gem at Purdons.”
Marg Lee noted last night was the first time Keayang Zahara had been “used” off the gate.
“We’ve always known she’d have early speed, look at her, but the mother was quite ‘revvy’ and we’ve really focused on letting this girl settle and develop into a racehorse.
“She’s come home after the race, had a good drink and got into her feed, so I’d say she’ll stay on and run in the Derby if she’s this good over the weekend.”
Keayang Zahara, who only started racing on April 3, is unbeaten in 13 starts and last night was her sixth at Group 1 level.
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