John Dunne
IT was billed as match race and one that had trotting fans salivating at the prospect of the unbeaten fillies Keayang Zahara and Violet Stanford going head to head in the Classic Connection Vicbred Super Series (3YO Trotting Fillies) Finals.
In the end punters got it right when they backed the Margaret Lee trained Keayang Zahara into $1.60 favoritism while the Nathan Jack prepared Violet Stanford drifted out to start a clear $3.60 second elect.
Jack, looking for an early advantage, pressed on for the lead from his wide front row draw and opted to maintain a genuine tempo during the middle stages of the event.
Jason Lee made a mid-race move on Keayang Zahara to sit parked outside Violet Stanford with a lap to travel.
Keayang Zahara momentarily dropped in for a trail before Lee pulled out on straightening and Keayang Zahara clicked into another gear bounding away from Violet Stanford to score by 13 metres in a mile rate of 1:56.8.
The race left leading race caller Dan Mielicki astounded as he was moved to say ‘she is the best three-year-old trotting filly I’ve ever seen- and that’s a big statement’.
And then followed the ultimate accolade when Mielicki declared that ‘she took off like Maoris Idol in the last 50’
Lee, who gave a victory salute on the line, was delighted with the performance.
“This filly is very, very special to us,” Lee said.
“At least is was good for the race even though I probably wasn’t enjoying it in the run but Nathan (Jack) made a real race of it with the two unbeaten fillies and it was good that she lived up to how good we think she is,” he said.
Lee admitted he had to make his move despite the genuine tempo set by Jack on the leader.
“I knew we were running as soon as I hooked out and that was how we found it with Nathan who drove a great race- he did everything he could to beat us,” he said.
Lee said the daughter of Volstead handled the false start with aplomb.
“I’ve got a lot more confidence now with her manners, she’s come a long way from as a yearling with a bit of a mind of her own,” he said.
Lee said there are a plethora of future racing options for the filly including a possible trip across the Tasman.
“There has been talk of going to New Zealand with her but I’ll leave that up to Mum and the uncles or just staying home and picking up the good fillies’ races and perhaps the Derby,” he said.
The win was Keayang Zahara’s third Group 1 success from only six career starts and she has pocketed almost $150,000 in prize money.
