Aldebaran Dexta the record-breaker

The Aldebaran Park bred and owned four-year-old Aldebaran Dexta (Aldebaran Eagle USA – Aldebaran Deegan NZ) established fresh track records for the 2230 metres and 2645 metres standing start at Globe Derby Park on his way to stringing together three more consecutive harness racing wins in December to take his winning streak to six in succession.

The gelding won 11 of his 13 starts last season and has now won 15 out of 25 lifetime appearances. A special mention to his trainer-driver Ryan Hyrhorec and his team for their patience – he has certainly been a revelation this season.

Aldebaran Dexta was one of seven individual winners in December sired by the 2023 Australian premier three-year-old trotting sire Aldebaran Eagle USA. This follows on from him being the Australian premier two-year-old trotting sire in 2022.

Other recent Aldebaran Eagle USA winners were Aldebaran Demi (Aldebaran Maori), a winner at Melton in a career-best 1:58.3 and 1:58.5, the three-year-olds Avenel Eagle (Naked Majesty), who won at Globe Derby Park twice and Victor Harbour, Aldebaran Dahlia (Aldebaran Daisy) and two ‘new’ three-year-old winners in New Zealand in Eagle Hanover and Grand Eagle.

Kyvalley Amanda Tr 1:58.9, who captured the Aldebaran Park Starlet Trot at Cranbourne, provided the highlight of another busy month for leading colonial bred sire Skyvalley NZ.

Skyvalley NZ sired six individual winners for the month including the Melton victors Golden Sunset Tr 1:59.4 (7 wins and $86,360) and Hurricane Jane, the three-year-olds Picket Wire and Minimez and Patched (17 wins and $165,949), a winner in 1:58.3 at Pinjarra.

Skyvalley NZ also figured as the damsire of the promising three-year-old Maori Franklin, who scored at Melton and Charlton, One Pinevale Hill, Jilliby Jetpack and Kivici.

The Aldebaran Park bred and owned Aldebaran Keepa NZ Tr 1:56.6 – (Kadabra USA-Another Love NZ), the 2022 Victoria Oaks champion, returned to the winning lists when she outgunned a strong field at Bendigo. It was her 10^th lifetime success and lifted her stake tally to $158,233.

The five-year-old mare Aldebaran Acrux USA (Chapter Seven – Model Behavior), a winner in 1:55 in North America, has been shipped to Victoria and will acclimatise at Aldebaran Park before she begins pre-training in late January.

Aldebaran Zeus Tr 1:52.6 is on his way back to Australia after completing his racing in the USA and he is expected to arrive back in Australia in late January following quarantine periods in Chicago and Auckland in New Zealand. We look forward to welcoming him back at the Brent Lilley stable.

Sale yearlings

Aldebaran Eagle USA has two representatives in the Nutrien Equine Melbourne Yearling Sale on April 13 and 14 at Oaklands Junction.

Lot 271 is Aldebaran Miguel, a stunning black colt from the Kadabra mare Mason Magic, a daughter of the Inter Dominion champion Sumthingaboutmaori. He’s a half-brother to the dual Group winner Aldebaran Misty 1:59.7 ($116,260) and the Group 1 placegetter Aldebaran Miley 1:57.9 ($105,490).

The second nomination is Lot 299, a colt out of Owe Dee Emm Phoenix, a half-sister to the Breeders Crown, Vicbred and Redwood winner Eljaykay Phoenix ($256,877) and the dual Group placegetter Peregrine Phoenix ($102,160). We are preparing him for stud client Ashley Haynes.

More information re the Aldebaran Park yearlings and those being prepared and presented for clients will be available soon.

Stallion Statistics

Aldebaran Eagle USA left seven individual three-year-old winners in Australia last season and progeny earnings of $407,048, more than $50,000 ahead of his nearest rival.

He finished eighth on the all aged list with $544,539.

Aldebaran Eagle’s studmate Skyvalley NZ was again the leading Australian colonial bred sire for the 2023 season. He finished sixth on the all aged list with $669,603.

December foalings

Naked Majesty – Dancinginthedark M USA – filly

All our foals are now on the ground, and we look forward to watching their growth as they next head to weaning in the middle of the year.

 Stallion News

With the current breeding season nearing completion we have been pleased with the patronage of our two stallions who stand ‘fresh’ at Aldebaran Park.

Chilled semen for Dancinginthedark M Tr1:49.3 – USD$362,304 (Readly Express SWE – Leila USA) is available to New Zealand breeders in the 2023/24 season. He has served in excess of 70 mares with additional late season bookings continuing to be placed.

His service fee in NZ will be $4,600 including GST an in Australia $4,400 including GST.

Skyvalley NZ continues to sire winners and maintain his position as the No.1 colonial trotting stallion here in Australia. His service fee is $2,000 including GST.

Both stallions have been well patronized this season and we look forward to assisting all clients with their enquiries as the season draws to a close.

Further details re Dancinginthedark M USA and Skyvalley NZ can be found in the Stallions Section of the Aldebaran Park website by clicking here.

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink