Feature trot winner ruled out of Inter Dominion

Aldebaran Zeus (Muscle Hill) collected a golden ticket into harness racing’s Inter Dominion Trotting Championship with Friday night’s (Oct. 21) win in the True Roman Trotters Free For All, but trainer Brent Lilley says there’s other plans in store for the star four-year-old squaregaiter.

An impressive front-running display in the Group 2 feature at Melton made it four victories from six starts this preparation for Aldebaran Zeus, who fought hard up the straight to hold off Sundons Courage (Chris Angove/Ryan Duffy) and Ollivici (Chris Lang) in 1:58.0.

Despite the success and direct entry into the ID22 heats, Lilley told thetrots.com.au that Aldebaran Zeus would not be aimed at the iconic series.

Aldebaran Zeus was not part of the original list of nominations for ID22, but connections do have the ability to pay a late entry fee of $10,000 to compete in the qualifiers on November 26, November 29 and December 3.

“He’s Vicbred so he has a $100,000 race in December, and we will concentrate on the Great Southern Star in February,” Lilley told thetrots.com.au.

“The series suits (stablemate) Queen Elida more than Zeus at this stage of their career.”

Aldebaran Zeus, the reigning Victorian three-year-old trotting colt or gelding of the year, has now chalked up over $230,000 in prizemoney.

All four of Victoria’s ID22 trotting golden ticket races have now been run and won, with one more left interstate in the Queensland Trotters Sprint on Saturday, November 12.

ALDEBARAN ZEUS REPLAY