By Adam Hamilton
The Aussies only snared the one win on Show Day at Addington Raceway, but it was the one that stole the week.
Keayang Zahara’s mesmerizing win in the $500,000 Majestic Horse Floats LP The Ascent also capped the greatest NZ Cup Week in history for Aussie raiders, winning three of the “majors” with the 10-horse team who crossed the ditch.
Swayzee did his thing, again, in last Tuesday’s IRT NZ Trotting Cup.
The way he did it was just so Swayzee. Defying his daunting travel and racing schedule to lift off the canvas when local star Don’t Stop Dreaming looked to have him cold at the 100m.
But it was fitting that champion Aussie trotter and global flag bearer Just Believe set the tone for the week by delivering the first big win for Australia in the $400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot.
It was little more than trackwork as Just Believe found the front and won eased down for 10th Group 1 win of his stellar career.
“Harry” as he is so affectionately known was expected to repeat the dose yesterday, but even the greats aren’t unbeatable.
Punching into a strong wind outside of the leader, Just Believe always looked vulnerable in the run with the explosive and classy Oscar Bonavena stalking on his back.
While Harry gave a good kick rounding the home bend, old Oscar used that speed of his to snatch victory and move very close to $1 million in earnings.
Just Believe was so very brave. It was only his third defeat in 22 starts since returning from Sweden last year. Each time he’s run second.
With the Aussie mood dampened slightly, the spotlight moved to Keayang Zahara.
Yes, she’s looked amazing winning all 11 starts in Australian, five of them at Group 1 level, but could she handle a trip to NZ so early in her career and would the Kiwis be much harder to beat?
Yes and no were the answers.
In one of the spine-tingling moments Addington has seen in many years, Keayang Zahara literally left her rivals standing when driver Jason Lee said go on the home turn.
The margin was an increasing eight lengths, but that’s while Lee was letting her coast to the line under her own steam as he savoured the moment and flourished his whip to the appreciative Addington crowd.
Everyone knew they had seen something special.
It sounds disrespectful to Just Believe to say she’s the most exciting trotter in this part of the world, but she is.
He’s still the best, but it won’t be long until she’s hunting for him,
Before then, Kiwis will get to see her again in the flesh.
Trainer Paddy Lee confirmed Keayang Zahara would stay on for the $140,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington on November 29. She’s $1.08 to land her seventh Group 1 victory in the race.
But, staying beyond that for the Derby now seems unlikely.
After decades of the best Kiwis heading to Australia and plundering our biggest races, the tide has turned, at least for now.
And, as an Aussie, it’s great to see.
