Keayang Zahara aims to add 2024 NZ Trotting Derby to her NZ Oaks triumph

Freakish Victorian filly Keayang Zahara’s winning streak rolled-on and so will her time in New Zealand.

Keayang Zahara cruises to victory in Friday night's NZ Trotting Oaks. Picture: HRNZ

Freakish Victorian filly Keayang Zahara’s winning streak rolled-on and so will her time in New Zealand.

Trainer Marg Lee, who is based at Ecklin South near Terang, said there was “no reason not to stay” in Christchurch for another week to chase more Group 1 glory in next Friday night’s $NZ200,000 NZ Trotting Derby.

Lee’s comments came just hours after Keayang Zahara stretched her unbeaten record to 13 races and added a sixth Group 1 victory in last night’s NZ Trotting Oaks.

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“She did that comfortably and didn’t have a hard run,” Lee said. “Importantly, as soon as she got back to the stables, she ate up well and had a good drink.

“She’s amazing like that, it’s like she’s been here before. For a filly still in her first racing campaign, she seems to take everything in her stride.

“As long as she has a good weekend, we’ll stay for the Derby then get her back home for a spell.”

The Australian darling Keayang Zahara is too big, too strong in the Group 1 What The Hill NZ Trotting Oaks.

Driver Jason Lee went straight to the front, dictated the speed, and looked to have a lot in hand for next week's Group 1 New Zealand Trotters Derby @AddingtonNZpic.twitter.com/Dn7SesETvd

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) November 29, 2024

Keayang Zahara, who only had her first start on April 3, is widely considered the greatest three-year-old trotting filly Australia has produced.

In contrast to her first NZ run, when driver Jason Lee opened her up to win by eight lengths, last night he was ultra conservative.

“Maybe it was a bit cheeky, but I did have next week’s Derby in the back of my mind,” he said.

“When I got to the lead and had the chance to give her an easy time, I grabbed it.

“She gets a bit casual in front and has a good gawk around, which she did this time, but she still won easily and felt great.

“We’d actually been quite light on her this week, thinking we might stay on another week for the Derby, so it was nice to get away with a comfy win.”

Keayang Zahara and driver Jason Lee continue to dominate in New Zealand. Picture: HRNZ

The Lees would not be drawn on plans beyond Keayang Zahara’s spell.

“We’re not sure if she’ll have a really long break, or a shorter one and we can look at races in April or so next year,” Jason Lee said.

“We’re mindful of how far she’s come and what a big campaign it’s been. We’ll get her home, see how she is and then think it all through.”

Marg and Jason Lee also had one eye on Newcastle last night where they landed a third (Keayang Chucky) and fourth (Aldebaran Vera) in the opening round of Inter Dominion heats.

Jason Lee has a busy week ahead.

He will drive the stable runners on Inter Dominion night two at Bathurst on Wednesday, head back to drive Keayang Zahara on Friday in Christchurch and then jet to Sydney on Saturday to drive in the third round of Inter Dominion heats.

Champion driver Chris Alford was the star of Inter Dominion night one with superb drives to land a double on pacer Cantfindabettorman and Queen Elida.

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

Originally published as Keayang Zahara aims to add 2024 NZ Trotting Derby to her NZ Oaks triumph