One Over All puts his best foot forward

Enigmatic square gaiter One Over All (Angus Hall) stamped his class all over the Lenin Free For All at Melton tonight (Jun 1), lowering the colors of Aldebaran Zeus (fourth) in the globetrotting star’s Australian comeback harness racing run.

Aldebaran Zeus was having his first start back home since April last year after campaigns in New Zealand and the United States, and trainer Brent Lilley was forthright before the race in indicating it was a “first step” after a long journey.

Driven by Chris Alford, Aldebaran Zeus (barrier 2) crossed Sundons Courage (barrier 1) effortlessly to lead, and Greg Sugars was content to send One Over All around to the death seat early in the 2240 metre journey.

Sugars said he was pleased with how One Over All knuckled down in the straight to score his second victory in a fortnight at headquarters. The six year old gelding defeated Sundons Courage and Ollivici in a mile rate of 1:58.9.

“He’s always been a talented horse but he hasn’t always had the professionalism of his stablemate Harry (Just Believe), and that’s probably restricted him from chasing great heights to this point,” Sugars said.

“We had fitness on our side.  Aldebaran Zeus had a good trial (earlier in the week) but there is nothing like match fitness,” he said.

“It’s all aligned with this horse’s manners on race day. I thought if we did everything right we were a good chance and tonight he scored up beautifully.”

Alford said although Aldebaran Zeus had crossed “pretty easily” to the front, he would improve on tonight’s effort.

“He got a bit too keen from the 1200 and was pretty much all done by the 400 – but he battled it out pretty well,” Alford said.

The in-form One Over All moved to the breeze and raced clear to win the TAB Lenin Trotters Free For All for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars! pic.twitter.com/uvuwixM4FO

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) June 1, 2024

Trainer Brent Lilley was also tempering enthusiasm for Aldebaran Zeus pre-race, when betting placed him as short as $1.45 chance, indicating that the travel task the trotter been through in the past 12 months should not be underestimated.

“He is a six year old stallion and we’re not expecting miracles.  Whatever tonight brings it will be a step in the right direction.  We’re not expecting him to blow them away – we know that he will build on whatever he does now.”

As a sidenote, Greg Sugars ruled out a Queensland winter campaign for either of the stable’s superstars Just Believe and Better Eclipse, both of whom have just returned this week from group 1 wins in New Zealand.

“They’ll have about a month off before we make plans for them.  There are one or two others potentially we are looking at to go to Queensland, and there is some chance we could add this guy (One Over All) to the list, but we don’t want to take too many away,” he said.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink