Aldebaran Park winners everywhere!

Aldebaran Park bred and raised harness racing winners in three different States in September 2023!

Undoubtedly the highlight was the Group 1 winner Keayang Ignite T 1.57.8 – 6 starts for 5 wins (Angus Hall USA – Aldebaran Revenue) who returned to the track after an absence of almost four years a start earlier – and Group 1 winner Aldebaran Keepa NZ T 1.56.6 – 9 wins (Kadabra USA – Another Love NZ) running 1-2 at Melton on September 23.

Both were bred and raised by Aldebaran Park in Australia and New Zealand respectively. A few days later Aldebaran Keepa NZ went one better capturing a heat of the Tornado Valley Trot at Melton and lifting her stake tally above $140,000.

The homegrown youngster Aldebaran Campbell (Muscle Hill USA – Aldebaran Turnpike USA) won a heat of the Vicbred Super Series, while Rocky Valley (by Skyvalley NZ) ran third in the $100,000 2YO Final and Aldebaran Vera (Trixton USA – Kyvalley Aldebaran NZ) finished third in the 4YO Mares Final.

Aldedaran Eagle’s multiple Group 1 winning three-year-old filly Rockinwithattitude – T 1:59.7 – 15 wins – $270,490 won heats of the Vicbred Super Series and the Aldebaran Park Need For Speed Princess.

Other recent Aldebaran Park bred winners were Aldebaran Misty (Skyvalley NZ – Mason Magic), Aldebaran Dexta (Aldebaran Eagle USA – Aldebaran Deegan NZ), Aldebaran Stiles (Aldebaran Eagle USA – Sundonna), Aldebaran Yahtzee (Sebastian K Swe -Charming Yankee NZ) and Aldebaranspartacus (Skyvalley NZ – Jingling Silver).

Aldebaran Misty, T 1:59.7 – 11 wins, a Group 1 winner of $116,000, has been retired and will be mated with Dancinginthedark M USA, while Aldebaran Flame NZ – T 2:03.8 – 6 wins and $89,210 (by Trixton USA), a winner at Auckland on September 22, and Group 1 winner Aldebaran Alissa NZ T 1:57.7 – 13 wins – $71,171 will be served by Dancinginthedark M and continue their racetrack careers in the short term.

Resident sire Skyvalley NZ left the 1:58.7 Menangle winner Flash Kyvalley  T 1:58 – $140,144 and figured as the damsire of the Vicbred heat winners Lady Adelia and Just A Bit Touchy.

The Aldebaran Park bred and leased/owned star Aldebaran Zeus Tr 1:52.6 – 18 wins – $419,142 (Muscle Hill USA – Zoia Boko Swe), became the first Australian trotter since Scotch Notch in 1985 to contest the $1million MGM Yonkers International Trot at Yonkers Raceway, New York on September 9. Starting from barrier 7 he settled on the fence and with a great drive by Chris Alford throughout the race he finished an incredibly satisfying fifth.

Congratulations to his trainer Brent Lilley, who was on hand as we took on the world’s best in the race often referred to as the ‘World Championship’, Brad Chisholm who has been with ‘Zeus’ since his arrival at the barn of Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman and ‘Nifty’ and his Team for the accommodation of ‘Zeus’ and now the ongoing training as we continue his racing in the short term in the USA.

As per last month’s update, the chilled semen for Dancinginthedark M Tr 1:49.3 – USD$362,304 – (Readly Express SWE – Leila USA) will be available to New Zealand breeders this coming 2023/24 season.

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

Further details re Dancinginthedark M can be found in the Stallions Section of the Aldebaran Park website.

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink