There were no excuses, just admiration, respect and learnings from Keayang Zahara’s co-trainer Paddy Lee after her unbeaten 15-race streak came to an end at Menangle last Saturday night.

The brilliant young mare now goes from the hunted to the hunter in the rich Brisbane Inter Dominion, starting on July 5 at Albion Park.

Lee knew the streak was over well before the finishing line when another lightly raced and exciting Victorian mare, Susan Is Her Name, pulled off Keayang Zahara’s back turning for home in the $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile.

“I saw that other mare pull out, stretch her neck out and just switch into another gear and I knew we were in trouble,” he said.

“She was just awesome, Susan Is Her Name. She went terrific and what about the time they ran.”

Susan Is Her Name, who posted her 11th win from just 17 starts, clocked a scorching 1min51.7sec mile, just 0.2sec outside Maori Time’s Australasian record.

Keayang Zahara’s defeat changes nothing, but underlines the enormity of the step from dominating against your own age to taking on older rivals in the biggest league.

“She’s now into a learning phase,” Lee said. “She’s pretty much done everything so far on sheer talent, but she has to become a complete racehorse to win these top races.”

Lee was referring to the fact Keayang Zahara showed blazing gate speed to lead at Menangle, but then got a bit keen and pulled in front for driver Glen Craven.

“We had to take the risk and buzz her out, especially over the mile,” Lee said. “We had huge respect for Susan Is Her Name and didn’t want to sit outside her.

“But that’s just the second time we’ve used her early and both times she’s overraced in front.

“Don’t get me wrong, the way Susan Is Her Name went, it didn’t make any difference, but she can’t overrace like that, especially when the races get longer.

“It’s one thing having gate speed, but if the cost of using it is pulling too hard, then you can’t use it.”

Lee said he was still immensely proud of Keayang Zahara.

“Of course you don’t want those streaks to end, but we never got too caught up in that,” he said.

“She went great. She still beat the rest easily and obviously Susan Is Her Name is a real talent, too.

“If you told me she’d break 1min52sec in front and get beaten, I wouldn’t have believed you.

“You can’t be disappointed when you go down fighting in that sort of time.

“Brisbane is still a goer. She’ll get back home, have a few quiet days in the paddock, and then we’ll look for a couple of lead-up races before heading to Brisbane.

“I’d say these two mares and Arcee Phoenix are the big three for the Inter Dominion.”

Lee said stablemates Keayang Stuka and Imperial Monarch were on target to join Keayang Zahara in Brisbane.

“Imperial Monarch is right on target and Stuka is getting there, but takes a lot of work to get fit and sharp,” he said.

Another stablemate, last year’s Inter Dominion runner-up Keayang Chucky, will be a notable absentee as he recovers from an injury setback.

“We were getting him ready for an NZ trip and working him the opposite way, but he tore a hip flexor muscle and the vet advised we give him six weeks off,” Lee said.

Pictures: Club Menangle