Next door neighbour to partner Zeus during US trip

Paul Males works horses at a neighbouring property to that of fellow harness racing trainer Brent Lilley in Bolinda and will play a leading role in his horse’s highly-anticipated trip to the United States.

Males will travel with the star Victorian trotter Aldebaran Zeus (Muscle Hill) early next month and stay for the first few days of his quarantine period in Chicago.

It’s a great result for Lilley and his team to have a trusted friend accompany the squaregaiter for part of his trip, which will centre around the $US1mil MGM Yonkers International Trot in New York on September 9.

“Paul’s going with Zeus to Chicago and will look after him there until he comes back with the shuttle stallions,” Lilley said.

“We asked if Paul was able to go on the flight, and it has worked out great given Paul works for IRT Australia that he can then go and look after him for a few days in the quarantine as well.

“Paul will be there most of the time he is in quarantine.”

Once Aldebaran Zeus completes his isolation period, he will then head to Richard “Nifty” Norman’s property where he will see another familiar face from back home in Australia. Former Lilley employee Brad Chisholm now works for Norman and will take charge of the horse’s preparation until the master trainer arrives in the US during mid-August.

Lilley said it was unclear whether or not he would trial Aldebaran Zeus before his flight overseas on August 1.

“He’s pretty ready to go so it’s not the be all and end all,” Lilley said.

He was invited to the MGM Yonkers International Trot following his five-start New Zealand campaign which ended with a sixth placing in the Group 1 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park on May 26.

Upon receiving the invite to the United States, Lilley told Adam Hamilton he was excited to take on the world again.

“The experience I gained through Maori Time’s trip to Sweden will be invaluable in having my horse ready for Yonkers in September,” he said.

“He’s handled his interstate and NZ travel without missing a beat, so I expect he’ll handle the flights and quarantine in Chicago without issue. We’ll time it for him to peak on the day.

“The track suits, the (racing) pattern suits and an Australian horse is due to draw well in a big international race. I’m expecting big things from my horse.”

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria