Inter Dominion trotting favourite Keayang Zahara is set to miss the rich series starting in Brisbane next month.

Connections will make a final call in coming days, but co-trainer Paddy Lee said he “presumed she wouldn’t be going.”

Keayang Zahara blazed through an unbeaten streak of 14 wins last season, including seven at Group 1 level.

The four-year-old returned from a break with a narrow Melton win and then suffered her first defeat when she led, over-raced and was rundown late by another brilliant trotting mare, Susan Is Her Name, in the Group 1 Macarthur Mile at Menangle on May 10.

Keayang Zahara hasn’t been herself since the race.

“It took a lot out of her and that really surprised us because she’s been to Sydney last year and handled it well and she absolutely thrived during her time in NZ late last year,” Lee said.

“Maybe it was the hard run and the time they went, we don’t really know.

“But she lost a lot of condition and muscle tone and she only done light work since.

“I’d say the family (Lee and Craven clan who own the mare) will make a final decision by the end of the week, but I can’t see her going.

“She needed more time out than we thought after the (Sydney) trip. She’s starting to look better now, but still isn’t right back to herself.

“Put it this way, she’s not looking anything like the mare we took to NZ late last year.”

Lee said Keayang Zahara would remain in work even if she didn’t go to Brisbane.

“She doesn’t need a spell, she had a long break after her three-year-old campaign and she’s had another easy time now,” he said.

“We’ll get her up and going when she’s ready and give her some free-for-all racing to get used to it.”

The next couple of weeks will decide whether Lee, who co-trains with his mother Marg, has any runners in the Brisbane Inter Dominion.

They nabbed second and third spots in last year’s Sydney Inter Dominion final with Keayang Chucky and Keayang Stuka.

Keayang Chucky is out spelling, while a decision on Keayang Stuka and last Saturday’s Melton winner Imperial Monarch will be made in the next three weeks.

“Keayang Stuka trialled Tuesday night and would need to improve on that over the next three weeks, while Imperial Monarch will get his chance with another race or two in coming weeks,” Lee said.

Keayang Zahara is the second big name exit from the Brisbane trotting series this week.

The Emma Stewart-trained Susan Is Her Name has suffered another setback and faces a prolonged stint on the sidelines.

It leaves star Victorian Arcee Phoenix, last-start winner of the huge TAB Trot in NZ, and classy Kiwi pair Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena as the big guns of the series, which starts on July 5 and has a $500,000 final on July 19.

Arcee Phoenix showed he was right on target with a slick Melton trial win on Tuesday.

MORE INFORMATION:

Paddy Lee joined Ryan Phelan on RSN to provide an update on Keayang Zahara, discuss the stable’s Inter Dominion plans, and talk through their runners' chances this weekend.