Star duo reach important milestones

The Skyvalley gelding Patched and the Aldebaran Park bred and owned Aldebaran Jensen (Aldebaran Eagle USA-Endsino-Angus Hall USA) both achieved landmarks in their harness racing careers during February.

Patched sent his stake earnings past the $250,000 mark when he overcame a 60 metre handicap and a capacity field to win at Gloucester Park on February 21. It was his 23rd lifetime success and 12th at the Perth headquarters’ track and lifted his stake tally to $257,110.

Meanwhile, Aldebaran Jensen joined the ‘$100,000 Club’ when he emerged successful in 1:57 at Menangle on February 8. The gelding has won six races and been 19 times placed from 59 starts for $112,118. It is worth noting that he has a half-brother in the 2025 Nutrien Equine sale in Melbourne on Sunday, April 13 (see below for further details).

The Aldebaran Park owned American import Aldebaran Acrux USA (Chapter Seven USA -Model Behaviour USA) notched her seventh win and her fourth on Australian soil when she outsprinted a smart field over 2240 metres at a 1:59.7 rating at Melton. The following week she finished a close second in the Group 3 $30,000 Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold in a tick over 1:55.

Photo:  Aldebaran Acrux USA winning at Melton – courtesy Stuart McCormick

On the same night the homebred four-year-old mare Aldebaran Brooke (Southwind Frank USA-Excellent Boko SWE) and Kyvalleyhoneybunny (by Skyvalley) ran second and third respectively in the Listed $20,000 Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Silver Series Final.

The Skyvalley gelding Sellune put an exclamation mark on his career when he was named the Pinjarra Trotter of the Year for 2024 by the WA Square Trotters Association.

Skyvalley, who is third on the all aged sires’ list, enjoyed a stellar month with eight individual winners of 10 races.

Leading the vanguard was the very promising Timmy Turtle NZ, a winner in a career best 1:55.2 at Melton and Cranbourne, the Gloucester Park winner and homebred Aldebaran Sundown (ex Aldebaran Sunset NZ) and Patched and the dual Albion Park victor Golden Sunset (1:57.4 and 1:58.3).

Other Skyvalley winners in February were Mac Flick (1:58.3), who won heat of the Lyn McPherson Breed For Speed Bronze at Maryborough, Maximez (Maryborough), Watch And Act (Shepparton) and Rocky Valley (Ballarat).

Skyvalley also figured as the damsire of Moonshine Penny (Mount Gambier) and the Aldebaran Park bred Abbie (Majestic Son Can-Aldebaran Peggy), a winner at Maryborough.

Besides Aldebaran Jensen, Aldebaran Eagle USA was represented by the Globe Derby Park victor Sunnycoast Secret.

Joining Aldebaran Jensen, Aldebaran Sundown and Abbie as Aldebaran Park bred winners for the month were Aldebaran Vera (ex Kyvalley Aldebaran NZ), who won the Ararat Trotters Cup off the backmark of 40 metres, and Aldebaranstilinski (ex Aldebaran Sky), a winner in a career-best 1:57 at Albion Park.

The Nutrien Equine Yearling Sale in Melbourne on Sunday, April 13 sees Aldebaran Park preparing 16 lots with all yearlings now in the preparation phase and all in the yearling barns at Aldebaran Park.

Lot 234: Aldebaran Jericho – Bay Colt – Muscle Mass USA-Endsino-Angus Hall (USA)

A big, strong colt with a great attitude and looks to match his inquisitiveness, he’s by The Locomotive’s sire Muscle Mass and one of the last Australian crop of the Muscles Yankee horse. The colt is a half-brother to the $100,000 winner Aldebaran Jensen, being out of the $180,000 winning Vicbred Super Series and Holmfield winner Endsino, a sister to the Trotters Cup winners Hatchback. His grand-dam Jauriol won four Group 1 races including the NSW Derby and Oaks, Victoria Oaks and The Redwood and was the Australian 2YO and 3YO Trotter of the Year 

Lot 253: Aldebaran Max – Bay Colt – Dancinginthedark M USA-Aldebaran Midori-Muscle Hill USA

A smart colt who is the complete package and very sharp on his feet, he’s from the first crop of the fastest trotter ever at stud in Australasia Dancinginthedark M, a Stakes winning son of the mighty European racehorse and sire Readly Express. The colt is the first foal of a Muscle Hill mare who is out of the 1:57 winning Cantab Hall mare Aldebaran Malibu. The colt belongs to a starstudded American family including the Breeders Crown champions Musical Victory and Lookout Victory and the $800,000 earner Musical Rhythm 

Lot 258: Aldebaran Missy – Bay Filly – Dancinginthedark M USA-Naked Majesty-Majestic Son Ca

A racy filly that enjoys her work from the first crop of the Readly Express horse Dancinginthedark M, the fastest trotter ever to stand stud in this country and a multiple Stakes winning two and three-year-old in America. She’s a half-sister to the Premier Trotting Sale Classic runner-up Avenel Eagle. Her dam Naked Majesty, a Breeders Crown heat and Consolation winner, is a half-sister to eight winners including the $100,000 earners War Dan Destroyer, Zhenya and Naked Ambition 

Lot 271: Chestnut Filly – Used To Me Fra-Non Compos Mentis-Peak Den – on behalf of Wyndown Stud

A chestnut filly by the leading percentage sire of trotters the French stallion Used To Me. A member of the outstanding Maori Miss family, she’s the first foal from a half-sister to nine trotting winners including the Victoria Trotters Oaks and Vicbred champion Skye Rocket and the SA Derby and Oaks winner Aftanoondelite and to the dams of Australasia’s fastest ever trotter Maori Time, the Inter Dominion champion Maori Law and the Breeders Crown and Vicbred winner Powderkeg 

Lot 275: Bay Colt – Dancinginthedark M USA-Owe Dee Em Phoenix-Down Under Muscles – on behalf of  Ashley Haynes

A nice colt that will keep maturing from the first crop of the fastest trotter ever at stud in Australasia Dancinginthedark M, a Stakes winning son of the mighty European racehorse and sire Readly Express. He’s out of a half-sister to the Australian 2YO Trotting of the Year and three-time Group 1 winner Eljaykay Phoenix and the Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Peregrine Phoenix and a close relative of the dual Group 1 winner Arcee Phoenix and the Victoria Oaks winner Shes Ruby Roo  

Lot 300: Aldebaran Skylar – Brown Filly – Dancinginthedark M USA-Sultry Lady USA-Conway Hall USA

A nice, long barrelled filly with an all-American pedigree that’s chock full of black type performers. She’s from the first crop of the Readly Express SWE horse Dancinginthedark M USA, the fastest trotter ever to stand stud in this country and a multiple Stakes winning two and three-year-old in America. A half-sister to the multiple Albion Park winner Aldebaran Fonz, the filly is out of the 1:58 Conway Hall mare Sultry Lady USA, a dual Melton winner who is a half-sister to three sub 2:00 winners  

Lot 303: Bay colt – Cruzado Dela Noche USA-Square Peg-Trixton USA on behalf of Wyndown Stud

A smart colt with a lot of scope to grow by the Group 1 European and North American winner Cruzado Dela Noche, a $1.4 million winning grandson of Muscles Yankee. He’s the first foal of a Trixton half-sister to Breeders Crown and Vicbred winner Powderkeg and the SA Parker Classic winner Muscle Hilbilly. The colt’s grand-dam the 1:56 winner Sparks Ignite is a half-sister to nine winners including the Victoria Trotters Oaks and Vicbred champion Skye Rocket and the SA Derby and Oaks winner Aftanoondelite and to the dams of Australasia’s fastest ever trotter Maori Time and the Inter Dominion champion Maori Law    

Lot 307: Aldebaran Stella – Brown Filly – Bold Eagle Fra-Aldebaran Shakira-Muscle Hill USA

A filly with a great style and looks and a lovely temperament by the French superstar Bold Eagle, Europe’s first ever sub 1:50 trotter and the winner of $7 million. She’s out of a Muscle Hill half-sister to six winners including Australasia’s fastest ever trotter and five-time Group winner Maori Time (1:51.5), the Inter Dominion champion and Australasian Trotting Championship winner Maori Law and the Breeders Crown repechage winner Happy Maori. She’s a member of the prized Maori Miss family 

Lot 316: Aldebaran Trinity – Bay Filly – Dancinginthedark M USA-Aldebaran Takara-Trixton USA

An intelligent filly who floats over the ground, she boasts a full international pedigree being one of the first crop of the Readly Express horse Dancinginthedark M, the fastest trotter ever to stand stud in this country and a multiple Stakes winning two and three-year-old in America. A half-sister to the dual Swedish winner Aldebaran For Sure, she’s out of the Swedish mare Aldebaran Teal, whose dam, Jeune Fille, left seven winners including five in 2:00. Her first four dams have left 31 foals for 20 winners   

Lot 318: Aldebaran Tyson – WITHDRAWN

Lot 326: Aldebaran Zeek – Bay/brown Colt – On A Streak USA-Zhenya-Muscle Mass USA

A big, strong bold type of colt who is ready to go. He’s from the first crop of the Canadian 2YO Trotting Colt of the Year and Breeders Crown champion On A Streak out of the $100,000 earner and Group placegetter Zhenya, a half-sister to eight winners with four in 2:00 including the Group 2 winner War Dan Destroyer, the Breeders Crown Graduate winner Naked Ambition and the Breeders Crown Consolation winner Naked Majesty. The colt boasts a 3×3 cross to the mighty Muscles Yankee 

Lot 335: Aldebaran Angela – Bay/brown Filly – Dancinginthedark M USA-Aldebaran Ariana-Muscle Hill USA

A filly with a great attitude and a flowing movement from the first crop of the fastest trotter ever at stud in Australasia Dancinginthedark M, a Stakes winning son of the mighty European racehorse and sire Readly Express. She’s the first foal of a Muscle Hill half-sister to four in 2:00 including the four-time Group winner Cold Sister and the Kentucky Sires Stakes champion Dancing Filly and a close relative of the Queensland Springboard winner Aldebaran Selena, the APG Gold Bullion winner Agent Black and the QBred Triad winner Monterey Lass 

Lot 337: Aldebaran Archer – Bay Colt – Dancinginthedark M USA–Aldebaran Aliza-Muscle Hill USA

A big, strong alert colt from the first crop of the Readly Express horse Dancinginthedark M, the fastest trotter ever to stand stud in this country and a multiple Stakes winning two and three-year-old in America. A half-brother to the two-year-old winner Aldebaran Abel, he’s out of a Muscle Hill half-sister to the multiple Group 1 placegetter Aldebaran Vera. The colt’s grand-dam is a sister to the outstanding NZ racemare Allegro Agitato and a half-sister to the dual Breeders Crown champion Skyvalley    

Lot 342: Aldebaran Aurora – Bay Filly – Muscle Mass USA-Aldebaran Ay M NZ-Sundon USA

A classy, easy-going filly who is well put together, she’s from the last Australian crop of The Locomotive’s sire Muscle Mass. She’s out of the Group 2 Breeders Crown Trotting Championship winner Aldebaran Ay M, a sister by Sundon to the Cup winner and NSW Derby placegetter Aldebaran Southland. Her grand-dam ranks as a half-sister to the dam of the millionaire trotter and Inter Dominion champion I Can Doosit and the $200,000 earner Sno’s Big Boy. The filly is closely related to the Victoria Derby winner Kyvalley Hotspur and the NZ 3YO Trotting Colt of the Year Lovemeto   

 Lot 353: Aldebaran Bobby – Bay Colt – Pastor Stephen USA-Aldebaran Lovisa-Readly Express Swe 

A strong, flashy colt with a cruisy attitude and manners to match, he’s by the USA 2YO Trotting Colt of the Year Pastor Stephen, a million dollar winning son of Cantab Hall. He’s the first foal of a Readly Express half-sister to the Group 2 placegetter Aldebaran Brooke. The colt belongs to a strong European black type family with his first five dams producing 34 foals for 28 winners including 13 in 2:00 and seven $100,000 earners 

Lot 356: Aldebaran Byron – Bay Colt – Dancinginthedark M USA-Aldebaran Bridget-Muscle Hill USA

A striking, athletic colt who is all class, he’s from the first crop of the fastest trotter ever at stud in Australasia Dancinginthedark M, a Stakes winning son of the mighty European racehorse and sire Readly Express. He’s the first foal of a Muscle Hill half-sister to three Group winners Keayang Ignite, winner of the Vicbred Platinum Homegrown Classic, the Vicbred Silver winner Aldebaran Boyd and the Vicbred Platinum Mare Sprint Championship winner Aldebaran Poppy. The colt is closely related to the Breeders Crown champion Kyvalley Kyrie and the $190,000 earner Fear Not 

Lot 371: Aldebaran Emjay – Bay Filly – Tactical Landing USA-Mason Magic-Kadabra USA

A strong, striking filly with the breeding and looks to take her all the way, she’s by the USA Breeders Crown champion and sire of the last two Hambletonian winners the Muscle Hill horse Tactical Landing. She’s a half-sister to four winners including the Premier Sale Trotting Classic winner Aldebaran Miley and the Group 1 winner Aldebaran Misty. Her dam is a Kadabra daughter of the Inter Dominion champion Sumthingaboutmaori, dam of four Group winners and four $100,000 earners in Aroha Koe, Gus An Maori, Central Otago and Imamaorijet   

Lot 372: WITHDRAWN

 Inspections are welcome – contact Danny Thackeray 0407 223 819

Details of all yearlings including pedigrees, photos, videos and descriptions are available in the Yearling – Trotting Sales Section of the website www.aldebaranpark.com 

by Peter Wharton for Aldebaran Park