Superstar harness racing mare Keayang Zahara (Volstead) will not be heading to New Zealand for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot.
Keayang Zahara (Stuart McCormick Photo)
The winner of 17 from 18, the four-year-old was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Bill Collins at Melton in Victoria on Saturday night and was the outright favourite for the Dominion at Addington on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day, Tuesday November 11.
But today the decision was made by her connections to pull pin.
The Lee stable have also decided to not head across the Tasman with Keayang Chucky (The Dominion) and Keayang Tokyo (the New Zealand Cup).
The news is more promising for stablemate Jilliby Ballerini. She was second to Keayang Zahara on Saturday night. She is still in the nominations for the Dominion and at this stage will make the trip.
She’s now a $2.50 favourite for the Dominion with Oscar Bonavena next at $3.50.
The next rankings for both the Dominion and the Cup will be released next Tuesday night.