Narrow margin seals the $80,000 Group 1

He won by the barest of margins but that is all Aldebaran Zeus needed to claim harness racing’s $80,000 Group 1 Breeders Crown Final for the three-year-old boys at Melton on Saturday night.

Sitting behind the leader after starting from barrier three, reinsman Chris Alford sat patiently as Keayang Ninja dictated the tempo in front, waiting for the sprint lane.

As soon as the opening was there, Aldebaran Zeus burst through and overcame the final split of 27.5 seconds to win the feature by a short half-head.

“Usually I can sort of pick it but this time I couldn’t split it and I was just hoping the photographer was there to take my picture after the race,” a relived Alford said post race.

“He could have led and won considering how slow they went but the race didn’t pan out that way.

“I was cursing a bit because they went so slow but he did a good job to pick up the leader in a 27.5 quarter.”

Aldebaran Zeus has been trained by Brent Lilley throughout his career and rated a career best 1:58.7.

The son of Muscle Hill now boasts eight wins and 10 placings in 22 starts and earnings of $139,170.

“They ran a good quarter and I didn’t think he was going to get there,” said Lilley.

“In some of the big races he hasn’t had the luck but it was his night tonight.

“Full credit to my wife Tracey, she does all the work with him.

“He’ll have an easy couple of weeks and get ready for the Vicbred.”

This success gave Lilley his 31st Group 1 winner as a trainer and Alford his 122nd Group 1 winner as a driver.

View the Melton results click here!

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink