The man who has transformed Australian trotting thinks young sensation Keayang Zahara could become the best trotting mare in the world.
Pat Driscoll, the man behind breeding and racing giants Yabby Dams and Haras de Trotteurs, is keen to see the four-year-old take on the world “when the time is right”.
Keayang Zahara is chasing her 20th win from just 21 starts and a staggering 10th at Group 1 level in Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Great Square at Albion Park.
Such is the excitement around her, Keayang Zahara will rival local pacing champion Leap To Fame for interest and eyeballs on the night.
“She’s something else,” Driscoll said. “I’ve been saying for some time she is world class and she could develop into one of the best in the world, certainly one of the best trotting mares.
“She’s got everything and, if she stays sound and continues to develop, it’ll be great to see her take on the world.
“I read that the Lee family (co-trainers Marg and Paddy Lee) are going to give her at least another year here to develop and strengthen-up before they look at a race like the Elitlopp (in Sweden).”
Driscoll, who proudly sponsors the Great Square through his Haras des Trotteurs breeding business, will be trackside to watch Keayang Zahara at Albion Park.
“I can’t wait. She’s amazing to watch in full flight,” he said. “It’s exciting for Queenslanders to get to see her for the first time, especially at a big meeting like this.
“This is really the start of a big six months for Keayang Zahara as she steps into the big league and we’re going to learn a lot more about her.”
Driscoll, who bred Australia’s most recent champion trotter Just Believe, also has a close connection to Keayang Zahara.
“We were the first to identify her sire Volstead and make him available to Australian breeders. Keayang Zahara is a product of that,” he said.
“As someone who has tried to improve our trotting breed and really internationalize it, it’s just wonderful to have a mare like this come along.
“She’s got so much international flavour, being by Volstead out of a Muscles Yankee (USA stallion) mare.
“We are seeing generational change in trotting Down Under and the next generation will be even better and more exciting as we the mix of US, French, NZ and local breeds get even stronger.”
Driscoll also has high hopes for Jess Tubbs’ exciting three-year-old trotting filly, Tracy The Jet, who recently travelled from Victoria to New Zealand won the $NZ500,000 The Ascent at Addington.
“She’s got speed and strength and is also really going places,” he said. “I’ve earmarked her as a mare who could go to France in years to come and compete with the top mares over there,” he said.
“We’re just blessed at the moment, particularly with these two mares. It’s so exciting to think what they could do over the next three or four years.”
Beyond Saturday night, Keayang Zahara will return to Victoria to target a new $500,000 bonus across six feature trotting races from January 10 to February 14.
It can be won by a trotter who can win four of the six races, but they must include the biggest of them, the $250,000 Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton on February 14.
