Former Kiwi trotting mare putting it all together

When Aldebaran Belle arrived at Anne-Maree Conroy’s Daylesford harness racing stable from New Zealand last year, little did she know what a challenge the three-year-old would initially be.

The Conroy clan were excited to secure such a well-bred trotter on lease for stable clients.

In addition to Aldebaran Belle’s impressive pedigree, she was owned by prominent Australian trotting breeder Duncan McPherson and arrived with race experience, having been trained by NZ Hall of Famer Colin DeFilippi.

“When we first got her we didn’t know how much she pulled,” Conroy said.

“My brother Peter was driving her on the track one day, going round and round – he couldn’t stop her.

“I tried a few things to stop her pulling.

“I set her up with what I thought was the best head gear I could.

“I eventually thought I’d hand her over to (brother) Glenn.”

During the process to work out the daughter of Dream Vacation, Conroy gave DeFilippi a call to learn some more about her.

Conroy said the Kiwi great confirmed she had also proved a handful for him, acknowledging how much she had pulled while in his care.

“He said he had only ever had two horses pull as hard,” she said.

Conroy said handing her over to Glenn for a while in those early stages had paid dividends.

“Glenn got along with her quite well in the cart,” she said.

“We managed to win a couple with her and then give her a break.

Those victories came at Maryborough and Ballarat late last year at her third and fifth starts for the stable.

The patience shown by Conroy to get her right in those early days is now starting to reap benefits in a substantial way.

Aldebaran Belle has returned from her spell almost looking like a new horse.

She has strung together three wins on end at Ballarat, Maryborough and Bendigo, and is showing some real promise.

“She’s starting to hit her straps now. Fingers crossed she can continue,” Conroy said.

“Everyone’s pleased with her – the owners, Duncan, and we’re very pleased.”

Conroy said one of the biggest changes had come in her demeanour.

“She gets a little tense. We just try to keep her as relaxed as possible,” she said.

“She’s getting calmer as she goes along.”

Conroy said this was also evident in her racing, with her being much more relaxed.

Aldebaran Belle takes a shot at a fourth consecutive win in the Ballarat Veterinary Practice Trotters Handicap (2200m) in Ballarat on Friday night. See fields here.

She appears well suited off the front, having won her past two in standing start events.

Conroy said the plan was to keep placing Aldebaran Belle in suitable races as she progressed through the classes – using her mare’s claim where possible – and only step her up in class when it was required.

By David Brehaut for HRV