Harness Highlights

By Michael Howard (HRV)

Brent Lilley’s Aldebaran Zeus is a horse on a similar path to the ID22, who was in his own class in dominating Friday night’s Delvin Dancer 4YO Trotters Classic to Tabcorp Park Melton.

In Chris Alford’s hands the Aldebaran Park owned and bred race favourite was able to lay in wait in the running line until the final straight before using his elite speed to bolt to a seven-metre win from Aldebaran Huey.

“He had a nice run,” Alford said. “He got a good run through at the start with a couple of gallopers, didn’t really want to have to sit him in the death and thankfully John (Caldow) come out in front of him (on Tipsy Turvy) with a lap to go and gave him a perfect drag up and he only had to go from the top of the straight.

“When I pulled him out he just put them away pretty quick and then relaxed again. Driven cold, with his speed, he’s going to measure up to the free-for-allers later on.”

And, with a rising national rating, it’s the company he’ll very soon keep, including the November 26 Inter Dominion.

Asked if Lilley would direct Aldebaran Zeus to ID22 Alford told TrotsVision “I think so, yeah, as long as he’s well”.

Greg Sugars, who steered Maori Law to his first victory, on Friday night, since last year’s championship for Emmett and Richard Brosnan, is looking forward to the challenge of defending the crown.

“The trotting ranks in general just seem to get better and better every year,” Sugars said. “The juveniles get faster and stronger and that’s flowing through into our open class racing at the moment.

“We’ve seen quite a lot of horses in recent months going through their grades and knocking on the door to say they’re going to be contenders in open company. It all makes for an exciting future for our sport.”

In the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia silks Sugars led Maori Law to the front on Friday night and, while he didn’t clear out, he always looked in command.

“I think he’s been kept pretty fresh on purpose, he’s certainly not 100 per cent screwed down, we’ve got a bit of time up our sleeve before he needs to be 100 per cent rock hard,” Sugars said. “Pretty nice to get a nice cushy run in front tonight and get the job done easily.”

Racing returns to Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night when another ID22 Golden Ticket is up for grabs, this time for the pacers.