CHAMPION mare Keayang Zahara will go into the $530,000 Trot Slot without another start.
The decision not to contest Saturday night’s Terang Trotters’ Cup means she will be 27 days between runs when she steps out at Cambridge.
But co-trainer Paddy Lee isn’t fazed.
“We thought seriously about the Terang race, but just didn’t think it was the right thing with the NZ trip so close,” he said. “She’s qualified from a stand, but never raced in one.
“They’ve added some trials for Terang next Tuesday night, so we’ll trial her there instead.
“Terang is our home track and there won’t be many chances to race her there now, but we will run Jilliby Ballerini instead.”
In contrast, Jilliby Ballerini has contested three standing-start races for two wins and that desperately unlucky fourth in the Group 1 Dominion at Addington last November.
Under the conditions at Terang, she gets a maximum 30m handicap and is a $1.20 favourite in early markets as she also prepares for the Cambridge feature.
“It looks like a good race for her. We will need to get some standing start racing into Keayang Zahara with our plans to take her back to NZ again later this year for the Dominion,” Lee said.
Jilliby Ballerini has finished second to Keayang Zahara in three of her past four starts, including last Saturday week’s Group 1 Hammerhead Mile at Menangle.
When the glamour pair head to NZ remains uncertain.
“We want to get there as close as possible to race night,” Lee said. “At this stage they’re on an April 4 plane, but there’s talk of a flight on April 6 or 7. If one of those happens, we’ll switch to it.
“They love it here at home and we want them here as long as we can before going away.” - Adam Hamilton
