The race was hit by a false start that clearly upset a number of runners.
Driver Jason Lee was interested in settling Keayang Zahara early. From the second row, Sydney visitor Sunset Hill showed great speed to zoom through the pack and take the clear lead.
KEAYANG ZAHARA DECEMBER 6 REPEAT
Shortly afterwards, Keayang Zahara took a course one out and two back. The smart mare Maoris Mac had an advantage over the leader after surrendering the early lead.
Lee let Keayang Zahara full stride into the back straight, but she then settled behind Sunset Hill, who looked like he might try to steal the race on the final lap.
Sunset Stride was clear in the turn, but with the support of the crowd, Keayang Zahara stretched out to eventually win by more than two meters from a brave Sunset Stride and Maoris Mac in third place, just ahead of Valtino.
Lee said after the event.
Before the race we had identified Sunset Stride as our only possible danger. I didn’t want to take her to the death chair because that would have given her a harder run than I wanted. Normally she just keeps going when she’s going flat out, but when I chose to take the path behind Sunset Hill she settled in beautifully.
And she did it just as easily at the finish.
Keayang Zahara has now made an astonishing 20 of her 21 appearances, including ten Group 1 events, with the only blemish being a second-place finish at Menangle in May. Her betting earnings now exceed $868,000.
Keayang Zahara now heads straight back to Terang and her immediate target in six weeks is the Maori Mile at Bendigo.
Her other immediate target besides the Country Cups will be the Great Southern Star and trainer Marg Lee indicated that racing twice a day will not be a problem. The mare received a treat after her victory. Having conquered the very best in both Australia and New Zealand, there seems to be no race or series that would surpass her.
However, the Lees are realistic and will not be carried away by potential foreign invitations. As Jason Lee pointed out
We’ll just bring her home and make plans from there.
In any other race, Sunset Stride would have stolen the event with daring break-up tactics. But for his connections, it was a shame that he had to meet a star like Keayang Zahara. The New Zealand gelding was undefeated in his two outings in Australia and it is clear from his run last night that he will make his presence felt in the better classes.
By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink
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