A squaregaiter destined for harness racing immortality has claimed her first Victorian Horse of the Year award.
Keayang Zahara, the trotter many think will become our greatest ever, was adjudged the standout performer of the 2025 season and acknowledged for her feats during a gala presentation event at Melton Entertainment Park on Sunday night.
The Marg and Paddy Lee-trained four-year-old needed just seven starts to confirm her status as the state’s best. She won six of them, including the Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters Sprint, Group 1 Vicbred Super Series Final and Group 1 Great Square in Queensland during a campaign that reaped just over $200,000 in prizemoney.
At the completion of 2025, Keayang Zahara had confirmed herself as the boom trotter in this part of the world and turned for the new season with a career record of 21 starts for 20 wins and one second placing.
A panel of judges from across the industry voted Keayang Zahara as the standout horse of 2025 ahead of fellow finalists and respective age/gait winners Arcee Phoenix, Bay Of Biscay, Bulletproof Boy and Tracy The Jet.
Keayang Zahara becomes the fourth-straight trotter to win the Victorian Horse of the Year award, taking the mantle off reigning two-time champion Just Believe.
Duncan McPherson claimed Victorian harness racing’s highest individual honour, the Gordon Rothacker Medal, for his incredible journey as a breeder and amazing work with his charity, Team Teal, while trailblazers Katrina Fitzpatrick and Patsy Abrahams were both recipients of the prestigious Pearl Kelly Award, which recognises the outstanding contribution to, or achievement within, the sport by a woman.
Leap To Fame’s owner, Queenslander Kevin Seymour, joined an illustrious list of names when he was revealed as a Caduceus Club Living Legend, while Len Baker, Colleen Boyington, John Randles and Steve Warren took home Lang Distinguished Service medals for their massive impact on harness racing.
Emma Stewart (state and metropolitan), James Herbertson (state and metropolitan) and Ryan Sanderson (concession) were celebrated for winning respective Victorian training and driving titles in 2025.
2025 AWARDS
Gordon Rothacker Medal – DUNCAN MCPHERSON
Victorian Horse of the Year – KEAYANG ZAHARA
Caduceus Club of Victoria Living Legend – KEVIN SEYMOUR
Pearl Kelly Award – PATSY ABRAHAMS, KATRINA FITZPATRICK
Victorian Trainer of the Year – EMMA STEWART
Metropolitan Trainer of The Year – EMMA STEWART
Victorian Driver of The Year – JAMES HERBERTSON
Metropolitan Driver of the Year – JAMES HERBERTSON
Concession Driver of the Year – RYAN SANDERSON
Lang Distinguished Service Award – LEN BAKER, COLLEEN BOYINGTON, JOHN RANDLES, STEVE WARREN
2YO Pacing Filly of the Year – ARRHYTHMIA
2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year – LOUCASSO
3YO Pacing Filly of the Year – SOHO AMERICANO
3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year – FOX DAN
4YO Pacing Mare of the Year – KISS
4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – BAY OF BISCAY
Aged Pacing Mare of the Year – RAKERO REBEL
Aged Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – BULLETPROOF BOY
2YO Trotting Filly of the Year – HARPERSEVEN
2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – KEAYANG BAZLENKA
3YO Trotting Filly of the Year – TRACY THE JET
3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – MECARNO
4YO Trotting Mare of the Year – KEAYANG ZAHARA
4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – HILLTOP HUGH
Aged Trotting Mare of the Year – SUSAN IS HER NAME
Aged Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – ARCEE PHOENIX
Victorian Pacing Broodmare of the Year – CINCO AMIGOS
Victorian Trotting Broodmare of the Year – JUSTA PHOENIX
Victorian Breeder of the Year – MICK HARVEY
Pony Trots Metropolitan Series Championship – AMELIA HODGSON/BURNAHOLEINMYBUCKET (1ST), MINNIE/MADELINE WELCH (2ND), TWINKLE TOES OLLIE/ARABELLA MAXWELL-DEDINI (3RD)
