Champion mares Winx, Black Caviar and Makybe Diva became household names during glittering careers on the turf.
Now harness racing could be entering a golden era for the girls with rising stars Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini leading the charge from the same Ecklin South stable.
The pair spearhead a powerful attack in Saturday night’s $60,000 Group 1 Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Sprint for mother-and-son training team Marg and Paddy Lee, who will also be represented by speedy gelding Keayang Stuka.
Keayang Zahara has already earmarked herself as an all-time harness racing great, with 16 wins from her first 17 starts, including a stunning New Zealand raid in late 2024 that captured the inaugural running of The Ascent and the country’s trotting Oaks and Derby.
She was beaten for the first time in May this year, but her return to the track was nothing short of brilliant in last weekend’s VL Dullard Trotters Cup when she came from last at the bell to score over reigning Inter Dominion champion Arcee Phoenix.
“Jilliby Ballerini has come a long way, but what Keayang Zahara did on Saturday night … pacers do not do that, let alone trotters breaking the clock like that,” Paddy Lee said.
“They are both in with a really good chance, but most impressive is to see Keayang Zahara back at the races.
“You are always inspired to have good horses in the stable, but you really pinch yourself when you have two really nice mares who have the world as their oyster at the minute.”
Jilliby Ballerini chased home Keayang Zahara on five occasions last season, but many believe she has closed the gap on her megastar stablemate this year. She’s been in brilliant form throughout 2025, with her nine wins highlighted by a last-start demolition job in the Group 3 Australasian Trotting Championship. All three Lee runners have drawn nicely for the Bill Collins, with Jilliby Ballerini in barrier two, Keayang Zahara in four and Keayang Stuka in six.
“We came up with three pleasing gates,” Paddy said. “It gives the three of them the opportunity to find a good position early.”
