Another Australasian record in sight

FREAKISH trotter Keayang Zahara will continue her trek towards another Australasian record this weekend.

Thanks to her Great Southern Star success in Melton a fortnight ago, Keayang Zahara collected an Australian record-equalling bonus.

By registering the required wins, the Marg and Paddy Lee-trained squaregaiter snapped up a whopping $500,000 on top of the prizemoney.

In a stellar promotion, Harness Racing Victoria offered to pay the sensational sum to the connections of any trotter which won four of six specified races.

One of those victories had to be in the Great Southern Star, which Keayang Zahara secured by leading throughout in 1:54.2 over 1720 metres.

Keayang Zahara's $500,000 equals the amount Swayzee earned by winning four of five designated races in New South Wales last season.

Just 24 before Keayang Zahara's moment in the spotlight, Captains Knock continued his clean sweep of NSW's country bonus circuit to hit the $500,000 mark.

Captains Knock can create harness racing history by claiming the $1million with a win in the final leg in Penrith on March 20.

Swayzee and Keayang Zahara's bonus funds equal the mark established by Master Musician in 1990 which won the eligible two-year-old features in his native New Zealand and New South Wales.

Away from her bonus, Keayang Zahara's triumph took her earnings to $1,164,435 to surpass Queen Elida as the chest trotting mare on this side of the equator.

Bonuses are not included in a trotter or pacer's earnings.

Kiwi-bred Queen Elida was retired with 37 wins and 34 placings from 88 starts for a bankroll of $1,103,470.

Last month Keayang Zahara became the first Australian-bred trotting mare to surpass $1million.

Incredibly, Keayang Zahara achieved the feat with 25 wins and a second from just 26 outings, with 13 of those at Group One level - extending her Australian record.

Immortal New Zealand champion Lyell Creek lays claim to the southern hemisphere stance with 15 trotting Group Ones.

That brings us to Saturday's Melton meeting, with Keayang Zahara engaged in the Group One Grand Prix.

Drawn to lead throughout from the pole, the daughter of Volstead is an unbackable $1.04 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to capture her 14th topshelf event.

Jilliby Dreamlover, also prepared by the Lees, is considered the main danger at $10 from barrier three.

The Lee's third representative Imperial Monarch sits at the opposite end of betting as the $101 rank outsider from gate seven.