Bonus awaits Keayang Zahara in huge night at Melton

[Wandering Eyes]

By Adam Hamilton 

History says Kiwi fans should be glued to tonight’s Great Southern Star at Melton in Victoria.

In the two runnings of the $600,000 Trot Slot at Cambridge, the Great Southern Star has proven the defining form line.

And this year looks no different.

In 2024 the great Just Believe beat Callmethebreeze, Queen Elida and Arcee Phoenix.

Just a couple of months earlier in the Great Southern Star, it was Callmethebreeze beating Just Believe with Arcee Phoenix fifth and Queen Elida seventh.

Last year, it was another Aussie, Arcee Phoenix, who led throughout to win the TAB Trot from The Locomotive and Queen Elida.

All three came through the Great Southern Star.

Arcee Phoenix only ran fifth in a heat and was ruled out of the final by vets, but The Locomotive (second) and Queen Elida (fourth) chased home upset winner Watts Up Partytime in the final.

The Aussies will be back in force again for this year’s Trot Slot on Cambridge’s Night of Champions on April 10.

And at least three of the key hopefuls – Keayang Zahara, Jilliby Ballerini and Arcee Phoenix – are lining-up in tonight’s Great Southern Star.

The two outliers are Queenslander Gus, who has stayed home, and buzz French import Kristal Josselyn, who wasn’t quite ready in time for the Great Southern Star.

Gus, who landed the big Group 1 double at NZ Cup Week, returned for his first run since when he overcame a 40m handicap to win at Albion Park last Saturday night.

The powerful Team Lee are expected to take two slots in the Trot Slot with Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini the logical runners.

But they also have the emerging Jilliby Dreamlover, who is vying for favouritism with Arcee Phoenix in the second of tonight’s Great Southern Star heats (9.01pm).

“She’s a great chance of leading that heat and if she does, she’ll be hard to run down,” co-trainer Paddy Lee said.

But Keayang Zahara is the headline act with 23 wins from 24 starts, including 12 at Group 1 level.

Victory in the Great Southern Star final (11.33pm) will land her a new $500,000 bonus and make her equal with the great Kiwi Take A Moment on 13 Group 1 wins, the second most by a trotter in Australasia.

Given Keayng Zahara has just turned five, if she stays sound she will sail past Lyell Creek’s record of 15 Group 1 wins.

With all the great trotting options in Auckland like the Anzac and Rowe Cups, Keayang Zahara may well break that record in NZ.

And at 10.35pm it’s the Hunter Cup with big Kiwi hope Republic Party going up against Aussies’ big three, Leap To Fame, Swayzee and Kingman.

To see the field for the Hunter Cup click here  

 

View the full article