Knight Pistol crucial for Aurora Australis points

Aldebaran Zeus (Muscle Hill) and Majestic Man (Majestic Son) can make a lunge at Aurora Australis leader Just Believe in the second last leg of the harness racing series this Saturday night (Feb. 11) at Tabcorp Park Melton.

The two horses are best placed to challenge for top spot on the leaderboard when they tackle the Group 2 Aldebaran Park The Knight Pistol this weekend.

The race is the seventh event in the Aurora Australis, which culminates with February 25’s Australian Trotting Grand Prix.

Just Believe powered eight points clear of Im Ready Jet at the top of the standings following his win in last Friday night’s Great Southern Star, but both those horses won’t be lining up in The Knight Pistol.

This is a boost for connections of Aldebaran Zeus and Majestic Man, who sit nine and 11 points behind Jess Tubbs’ flying machine respectively.

The culmination of this year’s championship will see a $50,000 bonus payable to the owner of the trotter who accrues the highest number of points across the eight races.

Brent Lilley’s Aldebaran Zeus has gate five on Saturday night, while New Zealander Majestic Man will start from six and be driven by Kiwi reinsman Brad Williamson.

Great Southern Star heat winner Plymouth Chubb has barrier four, while Sundons Courage (one), Sleepee (two), Ollivici (three) and Mufasa Metro (seven) make up a front line oozing star power.

The sole runner off the back is Just Believe’s stablemate One Over All, who remains out of the draw.

The Knight Pistol is the headline race on Saturday night’s Melton card, with Rob Auber to join caller Dan Mielicki, Steve Cleave and Shannon O’Sullivan for the coverage on TrotsVision.

AURORA AUSTRALIS LEADERBOARD

JUST BELIEVE 24

IM READY JET 16

ALDEBARAN ZEUS 15

MAJESTIC MAN 13

QUEEN ELIDA 10

PLYMOUTH CHUBB 8

MUFASA METRO 8

SLEEPEE 8

SUNDONS COURAGE 6

HOPEFUL BEAUTY 5

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria