Champion reinsman Chris Alford was a relieved man after guiding the globetrotting multiple Group 1 star Aldebaran Zeus back into the winner’s stall in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Free For All at Melton on Saturday night.
Aldebaran Zeus landed on the back of the leader Harry Stamper while the $2.40 favorite Mufasa Metro was caught leading the outside horses over the 1720-metre sprint trip.
He peeled off and issued a challenge to Mufasa Metro who strode to the lead on straightening and dug deep in the home stretch to score by a metre in a mile rate of 1:54.
Alford admitted he thought it was his race to lose in the run.
“He would have been in a bit of trouble if he hadn’t of been able to win with the run he had,” Alford said.
“It was good and he felt a bit like his old self tonight.”
It has taken Aldebaran Zeus four runs back this time in to recapture his best form.
“He had a hard trial where they went 1:55 and he backed up five days later first-up and it may have flattened him,” he said.
“So they backed off him and he got a bit fat, he was fair last week but the run probably trimmed him up for tonight.”
Alford believes Aldebaran Zeus isn’t as sharp as he was a year or two ago.
“He has lost a bit of speed now as a six-year-old, but he should keep getting better,” he said.
“And he was down a bit in confidence so the win should do him the world of good.”
Alford believes Aldebaran Zeus will still be a key player in the upcoming feature races.
“He will still be one of the major chances in races like the Inter Dominion later in the year,” he said.
