Keayang Zahara added a fifth Group 1 to her incredible CV and became the first filly to win the Haras Des Trotteurs Victoria Trotters Derby since 2020 when she prevailed in Sunday’s feature at Maryborough.
It came shortly before Vytis won the elite-level Aldebaran Park Redwood Classic to give Emmett Brosnan his first Group 1 success as a driver and another memorable moment alongside father and training partner, Richard.
The Marg Lee-prepared Keayang Zahara stretched her unbeaten sequence to 11 races with a dominant performance in the Derby, where she prevailed over Valtino and Pinnie in a mile rate of 2:01.1.
With second favourite Violet Stanford galloping in the early stages, Keayang Zahara’s driver Jason Lee quickly moved away from an inside back row starting position and waited until the bell to make his move forward on the daughter of Volstead. A lightning dash was rewarded with the front and she was never headed thereafter on her way to an 8.5m victory.
Lee, who raised his hand in triumph inside the closing stages, said it was a great performance from the winner of over $250,00 in prizemoney.
“We had a few obstacles to overcome early and there was a little bit of action but she was terrific. She relaxed really good and then zipped up and ran to the front, she then backed off again and then finished off,” Jason Lee said.
“I just want to thank Pat for sponsoring the race (Pat Driscoll – Haras Des Trotteurs) and Maryborough who do a great job every year. There’s a great crowd and days like this don’t just happen.
“All the team at home, Marg, Paddy and all the staff and family, we wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
Keayang Zahara will now get set for her New Zealand trip, which will be centered around The Ascent slot race at Addington on November 15.
Emmett Brosnan was also saluting after guiding Vytis to a sprint lane win in the Redwood Classic for two-year-old trotters.
Brosnan, who prepares the horse with father Richard, gave his charge a perfect trip behind early leader Enchauffour and he charged through to win by 3.6m over Gatesys Gem, who snuck past the front-runner to snatch second.
The success was Emmett’s first Group 1 in the sulky and provided the 37-year-old horseman with one of his biggest moments in the sport.
“He took it all in his stride and got away really good, nice and safe. That was probably the most pivotal part of the race. After that, it worked out to take a sit and the rest is history,” Emmett Brosnan said.
“Once he jumped on the bridle, I knew if I got clear space without anyone else getting a jump, he felt like he could win.
“It’s in the history books now, I’m really proud of it.”
Champion Jess Tubbs-trained squaregaiter Just Believe won Sunday’s other major feature, the Community Bank Maryborough Gold Trotters Cup.
