The newest name to our 2024 roster, trotting sensation VOLSTEAD, had a sensational weekend with his daughters across three different countries including TWO classic Oaks wins! 
On Menangle's big Pink night, the GROUP 1 NSW Trotters Oaks was a highlight, with six runners by Volstead contesting the $75,000 race. Unbeaten Keayang Zahara (right) looked a nice prospect, she looks stunning and now we know that the three-year-old filly is one out of the box.
At just her third career start, the Victorian filly posted her third win and first Group one victory for trainer Marg Lee in the Haras Des Trotteurs NSW Trotters Oaks at Menangle. A patient and conservative drive by Jason Lee on the inexperienced trotter was the key to a five-metre victory. Lee admitted before the race that Keayang Zahara would be driven quietly from the barrier one draw, and the pair found themselves four back on the pegs. Volstead produced three of the first four finishers in the Oaks, with Pinnie (Robert Morris) finishing third and Worth Waiting (Rebecca Bartley) fourth. Mega Spur (Pegasus Spur) finished runner up. Keayang Zahara was bred by Marg and Paddy Lee, and Jason was quick to pay tribute to the family effort that has produced a polished juvenile.
“All the family have put in the effort so it’s nice to have a nice filly again. Everyone at home has had something to do with this, Marg, Paddy, Glenn, and she’s a lovely filly,” he said. “We will just enjoy tonight. This is a good start, and we will just take it day by day. She’s hopefully a horse that has a pretty bright future.”
(Story from Terry Gange, HarnessLink, 4 May 2024)
In New Zealand, star filly Empire City took her earnings past NZ$141,000 with a win in the GROUP 3 Northern Trotting Oaks. Three year old trotting filly proved she was all class in tonight’s $40,000 GROUP 3 What The Hill Woodlands Northern Trotting Oaks at the home of northern harness racing, Alexandra Park. Trained by Phil Williamson, driver Ricky May took her straight to the top and she ran down to the wire to win by a length and a quarter from a late charging Inasinglemoment.
Empire City was clearly switching off and on during the running.
“She was. She sort of needs the other horses up on her outside to give her competition. She’s a quality filly and the race was restricted to the girls so she was always going to be hard to beat, but she’s not quite as fluent that way. When you lead and don’t have to come round them it definitely helps,” Williamson said.
Empire City is owned by Peter and Janet Argus of Auckland. “It was great for them. They had family and friends here.” Williamson is based in the north at present. He’ll now look at racing Empire City in a Sires’ Stakes race and will consider starting her against the boys in the Group One Northern Trotting Derby.
(Story from Bruce Stewart, HarnessLink)
Finally the outstanding Volstead juvenile Jurassic Hattie topped off a solid run of recent form by winning the $100,000 Ohio Sires Stakes 3YO Trotting Fillies final at Miami Valley. The first of the three $100,000 Ohio Sire Stakes for three-year-olds took place in the very first race where the trotting filly Jurassic Hattie (Volstead) and driver Brett Miller led from start to finish with a five and three-quarter length triumph in 1:54. Iam Independent (Chris Page) was second with Butter N Syrup (Chris Lems) finished third. Now undefeated in 2024 with three straight wins, Jurassic Hattie is trained by Eric Nessleroad for owner/breeder Jerry Welsh and paid $2.40 to win.