Superstar trotting mare Keayang Zahara’s Brisbane raid looks over before it starts.
The ongoing challenge of getting suitable flights between Melbourne and Brisbane will see many of the major contenders for the Group 1 Great Square, headed by Keayang Zahara, left in Victoria.
Keayang Zahara, who boasts a stunning 19 wins (and a second) from just 20 starts, was $1.25 pre-post favourite to add another Group victory in the $150,000 Great Square at Albion Park on Saturday week.
Such is the impact on the race, Queensland officials concede they may need to move the Great Square back to its previous July timeslot to ensure the quality of the race.
“I’ve been working to understand the travel issues and challenges the Victorians are facing, but ultimately, in the case of Keayang Zahara, there isn’t a flight that suits what Marg (Lee, co-trainer) wants to do,” Racing Queensland’s senior harness manager Andrew Clarke said.
“Marg didn’t want to send the mare up early because of how hot it can get up here this time of year and the other option was to arrive the day before the race.
“As it stands, sadly we won’t be seeing Keayang Zahara up here.”
Keayang Zahara, who many believe can make an impact on a global stage in the next 12-18 months, was to be a major drawcard of the revamped Queensland Summer Harness Carnival.
“Pleasingly, we’ve still got Don Hugo and Hi Manameisjeff up here for the big pacing features and we’ll see them in action in the Sunshine Sprint on Saturday and again the week after the Blacks A Fake,” Clarke said.
“Having them taking on Leap To Fame in the Blacks A Fake and another exciting local in The Janitor, will be fantastic.”
Keayang Zahara, an effortless winner of the Vicbred 4YO Mares’ final last Saturday night, will now switch focus to chasing a $500,000 bonus through the six-race Victorian trotting series in January/February.
The first of them is the $75,000 Group 1 Maori Mile at Bendigo on January 10.
The bonus is available to any trotter who can win four of the six races, but it must include the $250,000 Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton on February 14.
