Red-letter month for Aldebaran Eagle

April was another big month for the ill-fated Aldebaran Park harness racing stallion Aldebaran Eagle USA (Muscle Hill) both on and off the track.

The American horse sired five individual winners for the month including a pair of ‘new’ two-year-old winners in El Tornado and Gatesy’s Gem, who both scored impressively at Cranbourne and Bendigo in Victoria respectively.

Aldebaran Eagle was also represented by a trio of Aldebaran Park bred trotting winners in the brothers Aldebaran Dexta (ex Aldebaran Deegan NZ), who overcame a 20- metre handicap at Globe Derby Park, and That Other Thing, and Aldebaran Boyd (ex Aldebaran Revenue), the latter two both emerging successful at Bendigo.

Aldebaran Eagle’s bonny daughter Rockinwithattitude was an overwhelming choice as Australian 3YO Filly Trotter of the Year for 2023, replicating her award as Australian 2YO Filly Trotter of the Year in 2022.

Last season Rockinwithattitude won eight of her 12 starts and $203,940 in stakes including successes in the Group 1 NSW Derby and Oaks, the Group 3 Queensland Derby – Oaks double and the Group 1 Breeders Crown Final.

Skyvalley NZ also sired a ‘new’ winner in Rarity Rock and was the damsire of the Melton victor Lady Adelia and the three-year-old filly Straight To Thetop.

The Aldebaran Park bred Kyvalley Heist NZ (Muscle Mass USA-U Dream NZ) completed a winning hat trick following on from his victories in the heat and final of the Central Victoria Trotters Championship when he downed a smart field in the Mildura Trotters Cup, the 10th win of his career.

On the yearling sales front, Aldebaran Park sold four of their five-strong draft at the 2024 Nutrien Equine Melbourne Sale.

Aldebaran Miguel (Aldebaran Eagle USA – Mason Magic) was knocked down for $26,000, Aldebaran Ada (Brillantissime Fra – Aldebaran Aliza) realised $25,000, Aldebaran Atlas (Classic Connection Fra – Aldebaran Ay M) sold for $16,000 and Aldebaran Tucker (Helpisontheway USA – Aldebaran Takara) made $13,000.

The remaining colt, Aldebaran Birdie (Skyvalley NZ – Regal Pepperell), will be retained in the short term and be fully staked for the Nutrien Sales Series along with Need for Speed, Vicbred and Breeders Crown.

A Skyvalley NZ colt from the Love You mare Simone De Beauvoir offered by client Rampant Pty Ltd was sold for $10,000.

The frozen semen for Aldebaran Eagle USA will be available only in New Zealand next season.

Bookings and further information from Andrew Fitzgerald on phone NZ 027 367 8264. Brochures and booking forms will be released in the coming months.

Aldebaran Eagle USA has sired four winners from only five foals in NZ to date.

Aldebaran Zeus continues his training preparation for a return to the track in late May/early June. Ww are all looking forward to his racetrack return following his 2023 American campaign.

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink