The track record-breaking win of New Zealand filly Aldebaran Keepa in the Aldebaran Park Starlet at the recent Cranbourne twilight meeting has added a new dimension to the time-honoured Group 1 $60,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks at Melton this Saturday night.
Having her fourth start on Australian soil, the Kadabra filly led throughout and covered the 2080 metres in 2:34.3, a mile rating of 1:59.4 – 0.8 of a second inside the previous record set by gelding Roy Hobbs nine years ago.
Bred in NZ by Melbourne businessman Duncan McPherson OAM, who owns and races her on lease with Tyla Hackett, Aldebaran Keepa, who is trained by Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, won three races at Alexandra Park, Auckland before being shipped to Melbourne in August.
“She finished fourth in the Group 3 Northern Trotting Oaks, then she was the first filly home when finishing third in the Group 2 NZ Sires Stakes and fifth in the Group 1 Great Northern Derby,” McPherson said.
“She then finished second and had a win at Auckland in a fillies and mares’ race in June which pretty much convinced us she was good enough to come over to Australia and race in the fillies’ Group events here.
“Her primary targets in Victoria were the Need For Speed Series, the Victoria Oaks and the Breeders Crown. We made late payments for her for the Need For Speed and Breeders Crown.”
McPherson will have multiple representatives as a breeder in the Oaks with recent Melton winner Aldebaran Vera also in the Group 1 classic.
The Oaks is shaping as the grand final for what has been a vintage season for three-year-old trotting fillies in Australia.
The local brigade will be spearheaded by the Anton Golino-trained trio Amandine, winner of the Need For Speed, the NSW Foundation winner Egret and the dual Group winner Revelstoke, along with the reigning Breeders Crown champion Just A Bit Touchy, now in the Andy Gath stable, the APTS Classic winner Used To Be A Maid and the Vicbred Platinum victor Mumpaysthebills.
The Rickie Alchin-trained Tough Love, the richest and winningest sophomore to date this season and winner of the NSW Oaks and runner-up in the Derby, is to lead the interstate challenge.
Interestingly, seven of the top 10 on this year’s three-year-old trotters’ money-winning list are fillies.
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Picture: Aldebaran Keepa by Claire Weston Photography
TUNE IN at TABCORP PARK MELTON on Saturday night
First Race: 6pm Last Race: 10.57pm
Racecaller: Dan Mielicki with Rob Auber and Kirsten Graham leading the TrotsVision coverage.
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Winner of the Week
LEAP TO FAME, by Bettors Delight out of Lettucereason, a winner of the Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby Final at Melton on October 8.
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