More honours for freakish trotter

A SQUAREGAITER destined for harness racing immortality has claimed her first Victorian Horse of the Year award.

Keayang Zahara, the trotter many think will become our greatest ever, was adjudged the standout performer of the 2025 season and acknowledged for her feats during a gala presentation event at Melton Entertainment Park on Sunday night.

The Marg and Paddy Lee-trained four-year-old needed just seven starts to confirm her status as the state’s best. She won six of them, including the Group One Bill Collins Trotters Sprint, Group One Vicbred Super Series Final and Group One Great Square in Queensland during a campaign that reaped just over $200,000 in prizemoney.

At the completion of 2025, Keayang Zahara had confirmed herself as the boom trotter in this part of the world and turned for the new season with a career record of 21 starts for 20 wins and a second.

A panel of judges from across the industry voted Keayang Zahara as the standout horse of 2025 ahead of fellow finalists and respective age/gait winners Arcee Phoenix, Bay Of Biscay, Bulletproof Boy and Tracy The Jet.

Keayang Zahara becomes the fourth-straight trotter to win the Victorian Horse of the Year award, taking the mantle off reigning two-time champion Just Believe.

Duncan McPherson claimed Victorian harness racing’s highest individual honour, the Gordon Rothacker Medal, for his incredible journey as a breeder and amazing work with his charity, Team Teal, while trailblazers Katrina Fitzpatrick and Patsy Abrahams were both recipients of the prestigious Pearl Kelly Award, which recognises the outstanding contribution to, or achievement within, the sport by a woman.

Leap To Fame’s owner, Queenslander Kevin Seymour, joined an illustrious list of names when he was revealed as a Caduceus Club Living Legend, while Len Baker, Colleen Boyington, John Randles and Steve Warren took home Lang Distinguished Service medals for their massive impact on harness racing.

Emma Stewart (state and metropolitan), James Herbertson (state and metropolitan) and Ryan Sanderson (concession) were celebrated for winning respective Victorian training and driving titles in 2025.

2025 AWARDS

Gordon Rothacker Medal – DUNCAN MCPHERSON

Victorian Horse of the Year – KEAYANG ZAHARA

Caduceus Club of Victoria Living Legend – KEVIN SEYMOUR

Pearl Kelly Award – PATSY ABRAHAMS, KATRINA FITZPATRICK

Victorian Trainer of the Year – EMMA STEWART

Metropolitan Trainer of The Year – EMMA STEWART

Victorian Driver of The Year – JAMES HERBERTSON

Metropolitan Driver of the Year – JAMES HERBERTSON

Concession Driver of the Year – RYAN SANDERSON

Lang Distinguished Service Award – LEN BAKER, COLLEEN BOYINGTON, JOHN RANDLES, STEVE WARREN

2YO Pacing Filly of the Year – ARRHYTHMIA

2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year – LOUCASSO

3YO Pacing Filly of the Year – SOHO AMERICANO

3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year – FOX DAN

4YO Pacing Mare of the Year – KISS

4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – BAY OF BISCAY

Aged Pacing Mare of the Year – RAKERO REBEL

Aged Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year – BULLETPROOF BOY

2YO Trotting Filly of the Year – HARPERSEVEN

2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – KEAYANG BAZLENKA

3YO Trotting Filly of the Year – TRACY THE JET

3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year – MECARNO

4YO Trotting Mare of the Year – KEAYANG ZAHARA

4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – HILLTOP HUGH

Aged Trotting Mare of the Year – SUSAN IS HER NAME

Aged Trotting Entire/Gelding of the Year – ARCEE PHOENIX

Victorian Pacing Broodmare of the Year – CINCO AMIGOS

Victorian Trotting Broodmare of the Year – JUSTA PHOENIX

Victorian Breeder of the Year – MICK HARVEY

Pony Trots Metropolitan Series Championship – AMELIA HODGSON/BURNAHOLEINMYBUCKET (1^ST), MINNIE/MADELINE WELCH (2^ND), TWINKLE TOES OLLIE/ARABELLA MAXWELL-DEDINI (3^RD)