Keep your friends close and your frenemies closer!

EXHILARATING sqauregaiter Keayang Zahara doesn't need to look far to find her biggest threat ahead of Saturday night's mega Melton meeting.

Widely-regarded as the most exciting trotting mare produced during the past decade, Keayang Zahara is a $1.30 TAB Fixed Odds favourite in the Bill Collins Sprint.

Last week Keayang Zahara returned from a five-month break to destroy her rivals, including Inter Dominion winner, Arcee Phoenix, in a slick 1:56.8 over 2240 metres.

The triumph took Keayang Zahara's record to an impeccable 16 wins and a second from 17 starts for earnings of $711,255.

Looking ahead, the Marg Lee-trained daughter of Volstead has drawn barrier four in the Aldebaran Park-sponsored Group One, with her main danger - and stablemate - Jilliby Ballerini, to come from gate two.

Often filling the placings behind Keayang Zahara last season, Jilliby Ballerini has made a marked improvement this time around.

In 2024 Jilliby Ballerini registered a win and eight placings from 11 starts, so far in 2025 her 11 outings have netted nine victories and a third.

Jilliby Ballerini is the second favourite at $3.60. Remarkably Arcee Phoenix is on the third line of betting at $18 from gate 12.

Jason Lee, who partners both four-year-olds, has elected to drive Keayang Zahara, leaving his cousin, Glen Craven, to take the reins behind Jilliby Ballerini.

"We’ve always had an opinion of Ballerini, but Zahara has had her measure," Lee said. "Ballerini has really come on this time in, but again, Zahara has improved as well.

"For example, Ballerini was impressive at her last start, but she was also fully wound up, then look at what Zahara did when she was first-up from a break!

"It is far from just those two in the race, but it will be interesting to see how they shape up."