Aldebaran is one of the biggest, brightest stars in the night sky and horses carrying that moniker have been a dominant Victoria trotting force for 15 years, winning many of the biggest races on the calendar, some more than once.
But the four-year-old entire Aldebaran Zeus is set to go to a new stratosphere when he lines up in a heat of the Aldebaran Park Skyvalley Vicbred Super Series at Tabcorp Park Melton this afternoon.
Last year’s Australian 3YO Trotting Colt of the Year and Breeders Crown champion, the Brent Lilley trained star will commence from barrier six in the opening heat of the series and has been installed a warm favourite at $1.40.
A win in the Group 1 $100,000 final at Melton on New Year’s Eve will build on a brilliant career for Aldebaran Zeus, who finished third and second in the Vicbred Finals at two and three years respectively.
Another of the Aldebaran Park stock, Aldebaran Dino, is among the leading fancies for the second heat for four-year-old entires and geldings. Trained by Wallan horsewoman Ruth Shinn, Aldebaran Dino has won six of his 13 starts in his first season of racing and is noted for his big finishing kick.
Dont Care, a Vicbred champion at two who has performed strongly at cup level recently, and the ultra-consistent Andy Gath trained Central Otago loom as the logical dangers.
In the final heat for entires and geldings, Locksley Lover, runner-up to Mufasa Metro in the Breeders Crown, looks poised to go one better. Rogue Gentleman, a winner of three of his last four outings, has drawn immediately inside Locksley Lover and represents a major threat.
The Jess Tubbs/Greg Sugars combination from Myrniong have the top seed in the two heats of the four-year-old trotting mares’ section in Visionary and Copacabana.
Both are well drawn and racing in peak form, with Visionary a last start second to Queen Elida in the Breeders Crown Final and Copacabana’s string of top four finishes including the Breeders Crown Graduate.