Sweet Ideal and Keayang Zahara put Victoria’s Western Districts back on harness racing map

First it was Keayang Zahara, now Sweet Ideal is putting Victoria’s Western Districts back on the harness racing map.

Sweet Ideal with Gary Lawlow and son Daryll. Picture Hamilton HRC

First it was Keayang Zahara, now Sweet Ideal is putting Victoria’s Western Districts back on the harness racing map.

The region is famous for its dairy farming, but the great Gammalite had something to say about that back in early 1980s.

Leo O’Connor’s mighty Terang stayer won 94 races, including two Inter Dominions (1983 and ’84), was a dual Australian Horse of the Year and the first pacer in this part of the world to top $1 million in prize money ($1,386,480).

Still today, as you drive into Terang, the welcome sign says “Terang – home of Gammalite.”

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Terang and surrounding areas have produced some nice horses since, but the hype is huge again now.

Keayang Zahara, who is nearing a racetrack return, is a potential champion. She won her first 15 starts, including a string of features in Australia and NZ, before suffering her first defeat at her latest run at Menangle on May 10.

The freakishly gifted four-year-old is nearing a racetrack return for the Lee and Craven clan at Ecklin South, 15 minutes outside of Terang.

Keayang Zahara has made a strong return to the track, winning the Hertz Melton Trotters Free For All with Glen Craven in the sulky. A touching moment, with Craven wearing the colours of Greg Sugars on a night remembering the champion reinsman at Melton Entertainment Park. pic.twitter.com/TSrAgK1ZOs

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) May 3, 2025

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It’s about the same distance to Camperdown, where one of Australia’s exciting pacing mares is trained by veteran horseman Gary Lawlor and his son, Daryll.

Sweet Ideal has won seven of her 14 starts and shown the dazzling sort of speed that will propel her into Group 1 races.

Like so many in the game, the Lawlor’s have had some nice horses along the way, but never a genuine star.

Bad Billy has been the best. He won 18 races, including a Hamilton Cup. He contested three heats of the 2018 Inter Dominion and also ran second to millionaire pacer Colt Thirty One in the 2019 Group 2 Queensland Cup at Albion Park.

Despite just starting her career, Sweet Ideal has snatched the mantle.

A Mighty win!

Sweet Ideal storms up the outside to claim the Lionheart Security Pace at Melton tonight for trainer Gary Lawlor and driver Darryl Lawlor! pic.twitter.com/CzOjUkXPgZ

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) July 19, 2025

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“She’s the best we’ve had,” Gary Lawlor said. “Not only is the real deal, but it’s so special because we’ve had this breed for 60 years, going back to my father, Joe.

“She’s closely related to Bad Billy. Sweet Ideal is out of a half sister to Bad Billy (Lagertha).

“This mare is the best. She can do anything, stay, sprint and find plenty at the finish.”

There’s even a Lawlor family connection back to the great Gammalite.

“He was at our property as a foal. His mum (High Valley) was here to get in foal again with Gammalite as a foal at foot,” Lawlor said.

Lawlor revealed the Sweet Ideal fairytale was almost over before it began.

“She came back from a breeding property with the mum (Lagertha) when she was just 10 days old and got pneumonia and colic,” he said. “We rushed her to the vet where Simon (Pearce) and his wife (Alex) saved this girl’s life and then cared for her until she recovered.”

Sweet Ideal will be favourite to add another win in race six at Melton on Saturday night and, as always, it will be a family affair with Daryll in the sulky.

Sweet Ideal, driven by Darryl Lawlor, wins at Melton in May. Picture: Stuart McCormick

“It’s a great time to have the best horse we’ve had. I was an electrician at Bulla (ice cream company), but retired now and can really enjoy her with Daryll and the family,” Gary said.

Lawlor admits to watching on with interest as Australia’s champion mare Eye Keep Smiling posted her 10th successive win and completed back-to-back Group 1 Golden Girl wins at Albion Park last Saturday night.

“I think she’ll handle the step-up and follow any speed,” he said. “She’s going for a break after this race, then we’ll come back for big races like the Vicbred and Breeders Crown.”

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as Sweet Ideal and Keayang Zahara put Victoria’s Western Districts back on harness racing map