For the first time in her illustrious career, superstar mare Keayang Zahara wasn’t in complete control of her own destiny in Saturday night’s Group 1 Just Believe Grand Prix at Melton.
Despite drawing the pole, Keayang Zahara was unable to hold the lead after stablemate Jilliby Dreamlover crossed her at the start and Jason Lee had to be content with awaiting his chance for clear air via the sprint lane.
Lee would have had slight cause for concern on Keayang Zahara ($1.04 fav) when the death seat horse, Lovemeto, joined the leader with 300 metres to travel and appeared to be travelling the better.
Lee though was quick to angle away from the pegs, and once in the clear, Keayang Zahara quickly put the race away in a couple of strides, bounding away to score by 11 metres in a mile rate of 1:55.6.
The five-year-old star of trotting in this part of the world now boasts an extraordinary record of 14 Group 1 successes from her 26 wins and is one short of Lyell Creek’s Australasian record of 15.
Lee conceded he didn’t ask Keayang Zahara to come off the mobile at the start.
“She’s been running the gate pretty hard, and she had a different set of shoes on her tonight, so I was probably a bit more cautious out of the gate and there was probably no reason to panic,” Lee said.
“I thought Snooze (Chris Svanosio) drove a great tactical race and it was probably a better spectacle than some of her races have been lately, so I was just happy to get the job done.”
Lee said the winner required little persuasion to reel in the Lovemeto in the home straight.
“I have been so kind to her so many times that every now and again you do just have to touch her on the tail and remind her, but you don’t have to ask much,” he said.
Co-trainer Marg Lee wouldn’t be drawn into outlining any immediate race itinerary for Keayang Zahara.
“We just want to get through tonight and see how she pulls up and then we’ll go from there – there are no set plans yet,” Lee said.
Lee instead was content to bask in the phenomenon that Keayang Zahara has become.
“To see the people that come out and get their photo taken with her and are not involved with her but feel part of it, and it encourages people to come out and watch her race,” she said.
“She is certainly doing a lot for the sport and we’re really blessed to have her. I have to pinch myself sometimes when you see all the well-bred trotters that are around and we have this superstar in Zahara.”
Keayang Zahara is now likely to contest next month’s $600,000 TAB Trot in Cambridge with the Inter Dominion in Brisbane high on the radar.
The vagaries of racing visited the powerful Lee camp half an hour later when the stable’s second stringer, Jilliby Ballerini, was beaten out of a place as the $1.08 favourite in the Lyn McPherson Breed For Speed Gold Trot.
Jilliby Ballerini settled one out one back while Michael Bellman ensured a genuine tempo on the leader Rockinwithattitude.
Punters were left aghast when Jilliby Ballerini galloped with 400 metres to travel as Glen Craven eased the mare three wide to stake her claim.
Meanwhile, Rockinwithattitude ($13) was able to steal a winning break around the home turn and the daughter of Aldebaran Eagle held off I Am Wilma to score by three metres in a mile rate of 1:54.8.
Bellman, who was having his first drive on the David Miles-trained five-times Group 1 winner, said he was able to dictate the terms of the race to suit himself.
“She felt super right from the time the gate let go and when we got that lead time nice and easy through the first section, she was always going to be hard to stop,” Bellman said.
“We gave her a little shake-up at the top of the lane so that they didn’t catch her napping because she was doing it so easy, but she put it out of the equation pretty quick.”
