More records, $500,000 bonus – freakish mare does it all!

FREAKISH trotter Keayang Zahara collected an Australian record-equaling bonus thanks to her victory in Melton just moments ago.

By registering the required wins, Keayang Zahara snapped up a whopping $500,000 on top of the prizemoney from her latest success.

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

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

Just a couple of hours earlier, the Marg and Paddy Lee-trained marvel won her heat in 1:58.2.

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

Swayzee fell short of a $1million payday by finishing second in the Albury leg.

Ironically, an hour before Keayang Zahara’s moment in the spotlight, Swayzee won the A G Hunter Cup to deny Leap To Fame’s owners HRV’s $1million pacing bonus!

Just 24 hours ago, 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 several eligible two-year-old features in his native New Zealand and New South Wales.

Away from her bonus, Keayang Zahara’s latest Group One triumph took her earnings to $1,164,435 to surpass Queen Elida as the richest 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.