Sport
6 February, 2025
Superstar guest for harness racing’s premier night
HARNESS racing superstar Keayang Zahara will make a special guest appearance when the Terang Harness Racing Club hosts its feature event next week.
The Terang Harness Racing Club’s annual cup night, featuring both the Terang Co-Op Pacing Cup and the Matthews Petroleum Trotters Cup, is set to run next Friday, February 14 from 6pm.
Terang Harness Racing Club president Chris O’Connor said he was eagerly anticipating the night which will be headlined by a special appearance from one of the industry’s brightest stars – with the locally owned and trained Keayang Zahara to be in attendance, both paraded on track and available to meet in the multi-million-dollar stabling area for attendees to get up close.
The four-year-old mare has won 14 of 14 races, most of which with a comfortable lead, creating no shortage of belief she could go on to be one of the best.
“She’s arguably the best young Trotter Australia has ever seen,” Mr O’Connor said.
“No trotter in Australia or New Zealand has done anything like this, and she's won more prize money than any other Australasian trotter in history.
“You’d call her the Black Caviar of harness racing.
“The industry is very excited about her and thinks she is capable of going over to Europe, where the trotting is much stronger than Australia.
“It appears she would be very competitive, even at the highest world standard.”
Mr O’Connor said Keayang Zahara was expected to draw in attendees from across Australia as keen racegoers want to catch a glimpse of the phenom who is helping to lead a resurgence in trots racing.
“It’s very exciting for the Terang Harness Racing Club,” he said.
“We run our club for our participants, they’re our number one consideration, but to have a horse of her standard even though her status is far more advanced than our club has given the sport in the area a new lease of life.
“We’re seeing a new appreciation for the sport.”
Keayang Zahara is trained locally by the Lee family, who said there was no hesitation in bringing her along to help support the Terang Harness Racing Club.
“She a local star so being able to bring her along so everyone can pat her and get photos with her if they want to helps to get a bit of buzz around,” trainer Paddy Lee said.
“At some point of the night we think she’ll do a lap or two of the track, and she’ll be in the stabling area.
“It’s great to get people in the local area watching, it gives people a buzz and helps to support a fantastic local event.
The Lee family knew early on Keayang Zahara would be special, according to Paddy, who trains her alongside mum Marg and brother Jason, who drives.
“We knew when she was around two that she was special,” he said.
“She didn’t want to be pushed early on but Marg gave her plenty of time to develop and grow into herself.
“At two she matured and came along in leaps and bounds – we started working her with some of the nicer horses and she was keeping up with ease, so you knew she would be special.
“A lot of the time you can see the potential if they can keep up easy with class horses.”
Mr O’Connor said he hoped to see no shortage of attendees, with plenty of entertainment planned both on and off the track.
“It’s an evening branded for a kid’s night out – we’re planning to have a petting zoo, face painting, and giveaways.
“It’s our premier event for the year and we’re expecting strong fields on the track with both the Terang Co-Op Pacing Cup and the Matthews Petroleum Trotters Cup, in addition to a celebrity race – with Wannon MP Dan Tehan and Warrnambool identity Matty Stewart both confirmed.”
Bookings will be essential. Contact Chris O’Connor for more information on 0429 954 265.
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