Busy few months awaits top youngster

LAST night’s Group One winner Aldebaran Zeus will be given a short let-up ahead of a “pretty busy few months”.

Speaking after Aldebaran Zeus completed a narrow victory in the Australasia Premier Trotting Sale Final in Kilmore, trainer Brent Lilley outlined his plans for three-year-old.

Lilley has earmarked the Australasian Breeders’ Crown, Victoria Trotters’ Derby and Vicbred Super Series for the son of Muscle Hill.

Aldebaran Zeus finished third in last season’s Vicbred Final and fourth in the Breeders’ Crown.

The squaregaiter was also third in the famed Redwood Classic.

“I’ll give him an easy week now,” Lilley said. “He’s still got the Derby, Sires’ and Crown to go, so the end of the season will be a pretty busy few months for him.

“He’s proven all along he is up with the best of the crop and with a bit of luck he can get another major or two before the year is out.”

After finding the front from barrier five, Aldebaran Zeus staved off a late challenge from Whos The Man to score by a head.

Bullion Harry battled on courageously to be a metre away third after racing in the ‘death seat’.

Rating a modest 2:05.6 over 2180 metres – 3.7 seconds slower than Banglez in the fillies’ division – Aldebaran Zeus took his record to six wins and seven placings from 16 starts for earnings of $75,910.

“With no heat leading into it he was a little underdone, but still got the job done which was good to see,” Lilley said.

“Chris (Alford) drove a perfect race to get him over the line.”