Keayang Zahara wary of “Susan” in Menangle Group 1

[Wandering Eyes]

By Adam Hamilton 

The challenges keep coming for unbeaten young Aussie trotting mare Keayang Zahara.

Having finished last year with those three feature wins at Addington, Keayang Zahara just did enough to stretch her unbeaten record to 15 races when she returned to racing at Melton last Saturday night.

The Marg and Paddy Lee-trained star is on the road this week to chase a 16th win and an eighth at Group 1 level in the $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile at Menangle on Saturday night (11.09pm NZT). 

While Keayang Zahara lifted after looking in trouble to win last week, Craven said this race looks even harder on paper.

“Yes, especially if Susan Is Her Name begins quickly enough (from gate two) to stay in front of us and find the lead,” he said.

“I’ve got huge respect for her and on the times she’s running, if she leads, she is going to be awfully hard to beat.”

Punters have pounced on the Emma Stewart-trained Susan Is Her Name, who boasts 10 wins from 16 starts and wins in all three starts this campaign. She has been crunched in from $9.50 to $2.60.

As a result, Keayang Zahara, who has drawn gate four, is out from $1.25 to $1.55.

Proven topliner Im Ready Jet, who really stretched Keayang Zahara last week, is the other key runner at $10 from a wide draw (gate seven).

Jason Lee drove Keayang Zahara to win her first 14 starts, but his cousin Craven was aboard first-up and takes the reins again this week.

“We like to share the drives around and Jase wanted me to have a steer in a few races,” Craven said.

“I know the margin wasn’t great first-up, but it’s the first time she’s been in a dogfight because she’s dominated so many of her races. It was great to see her want to get past Im Ready Jet when it mattered.

“It’s good to be part of it and there’s lots of pressure, but that’s what we’re in the game for.

“In saying that, I don’t want to be the one driving her when the losing streak ends and, the way the race shapes, it could be this week.”

The Macarthur Mile headlines a stellar “female” flavour of Group 1 racing at Menangle on Saturday night.

Champion local driver Luke McCarthy is the key driver in the other three “majors” on the night.

In the $200,000 Group 1 NSW Oaks, McCarthy teams up with Victorian trainer Mick Stanley and his $3.50 equal favourite Soho Americano from gate three.

Emma Stewart has four runners, headed by Ladies In Red’s unbeaten half-sister Luv The Nitelife (gate four), to be driven by Kate Gath.

Earlier, McCarthy has picked up the drive on classy Victorian raider Gatesys Gem, who is a $1.70 favourite from the pole in the $75,000 Group 1 NSW Trotters’ Oaks.

McCarthy’s own star mare, Eye Keep Smiling, is $2.15 favourite despite a wide draw (she will start from eight) in the $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile (formerly Ladyship Mile).

 

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