Keayang Zahara goes 10 from 10, Catch A Wave looks Christchurch bound and Cantfindabettorman just keeps winning in this week’s Aussie News.
By Adam Hamilton
Freakish Aussie three-year-old trotting filly Keayang Zahara will very likely head to New Zealand unbeaten in 11 starts.
The Marg Lee-trained superstar made it a perfect 10 when she cruised to victory in a heat of the Victoria Trotters’ Derby against the boys at Maryborough today (Sunday).
Importantly, her gate speed keeps improving, too. She began well and quickly worked to the front before cruising to victory in a very slick 1min59.2sec mile rate for the long 2690m trip.
She will dominate betting in the $75,000 final at the same track next Sunday.
Keayang Zahara will be chasing her fifth Group 1 victory in the Derby final.
She is booked on the November 5 flight from Melbourne to Auckland and then on down to Christchurch for the inaugural $500,000 The Ascent at Addington on November 15.
Beyond that, she is likely to stay for the NZ Oaks and Derby.
Many say the daughter of Volstead is as good a three-year-old trotting filly as Australia has produced.
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The Aussie powerhouse Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars’ team will have three, maybe even four, raiders at New Zealand Cup Week.
Champion trotter Just Believe and Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse will return after successful trips across the ditch earlier this year.
Tough and classy former Kiwi trotter One Over All also booked his ticket with an eye-catching second in a blistering last half to the exciting Keayang Chucky at Melton last Saturday night.
One Over All was clocked to run a 55.9sec last half at the end of a 1miun57.6sec mile rate for 2240m.
And there is growing talk He’s From Heaven, who ran a solid fifth in last Saturday week’s Group 1 Victoria Derby at Melton, is in contention for a slot in the inaugural $500,000 The Velocity at Addington on Show Day.
Just Believe will tackle the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Cup Day as well as the $100,000 NZ Trotting Free-For-All on Show Day.
Better Eclipse is expected to contest both the $1m IRT NZ Cup and the $200,000 Group 1 NZ Free-For-All on November 15.
One Over All’s staying prowess should make him an outside place hope in the Dominion.
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Andy and Kate Gath will be at IRT NZ Trotting Cup Week, it’s just a matter of which horses they have with them.
Andy Gath said former Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave was “almost certain” to make the trip across for the two races – the “Junior” free-for-all on Cup Day and the NZ free-for-all on Show Day.
“His bloods showed he had a bit of a virus in the Victoria Cup. He’s bounced back now and races so well away from home.
“We’re going to trial him and Callmethebreeze on Tuesday week, then run them November 2 at Melton. We’ll make a final on Callmethebreeze and NZ after that run.
“If he doesn’t go, there’s a chance the (trotting) mare Im Ready Jet might go with Catch A Wave instead.”
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Former Kiwi colt Christopher Dance showed why is hot favourite for the Group 1 WA Derby when he narrowly but impressively won the $50,000 Group 3 Western Gateway (2536m) at Gloucester Park last night.
Having just his second WA start for Team Bond, the son of Sweet Lou sat parked for driver Deni Roberts, gave a good kick when needed and staved-off talented stablemate Vegas Strip to win by a head.
The race underlined Team Bond’s strong WA Derby hand as they also had Golden Lode run a good fourth and Tualou finish fifth.
Earlier, last season’s NZ Oaks winner Aardiebytheseaside suffered her first WA loss.
After winning her first seven starts for Team Bond, the four-year-old sat parked outside main danger Steno in the $50,000 Group 3 Schrader, but was struggling before the home bend and tired badly to finish almost 30m away in ninth spot.
Former NSW mare Steno was brilliant in front for trainer-driver Jocelyn Young, scorching a 1min53.5sec mile rate for 2130m and ripping home in 56.1 and 28.4sec.
In the free-for-all, champion driver Gary Hall Jr won his “own” race.
Named the Congratulations Gary Hall Jr 4000 Winners free-for-all, Hall Jr took Tricky Miki straight to the front from gate one and scored as he liked by 8.2m in a 1min57.9sec mile rate for 2536m, beating main danger Lavra Joe, who sat parked.
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Classy former Kiwi pacer Cantfindabettorman is loving his move to Victoria.
When Luke McCarthy decided to spend some time in the US after last month’s TAB Eureka, Cantfindabettorman and stablemate Spirit Of Arion were transferred to Isabel and Peter Walsh in Victoria.
Between them, they have raced 11 times for the Walsh’s for five wins.
Cantfindabettorman made it two wins on end when paced a brilliant 1min51.4sec mile rate for 1720m to win the free-for-all at Melton last Saturday night.
“They’re certainly two lovely horses to have come into the stable,” Peter Walsh said.
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Former Kiwi gelding Always Smokin smashed the clock winning the opening race at Albion Park last Saturday.
The Chantal Turpin-trained four-year-old ripped along in front and found plenty to win easily in a 1min49.6sec mile rate for 1660m.
The time was just 0.4sec outside stablemate Blacksadance’s track record.
