Trots Centre: Opportunity knocks and Svanosio’s ready to Rock

Chris Svanosio’s trio have been knocking on the victory door and he’d love to break it down at Geelong’s Beckley Park tonight.

The Bendigo trainer/driver’s three-year-olds Rueslan, Pinvale Victoria and Crocrock have regularly threatened to score, but only the latter has enjoyed a recent win.

In fact while their last four outings have collectively produced 11 placings from 12 starts, Rueslan remains a maiden and Pinevale Victoria hasn’t tasted success since March, two matters Svanosio believes – with luck – could be resolved tonight.

The first of his three to step out will be Rueslan in the Jack Rabbit Winery 3YO Pace.

“Rueslan’s had five starts and been in the money every time,” Svanosio said. “He is really honest and gone good enough every time without starring.

“He is starting to get there. He will win one soon. He was first-up last time at Cranbourne and probably ran out of condition. His other runs he has done a fair bit of work every time and we’ve been beaten narrowly.”

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By Courage Under Fire out of Marfusha for owner/breeders James Stewart and Larissa Koroznikova, Rueslan’s shown plenty of grit in his runs, which he’s needed to overcome his modest tactical speed.

“Rueslan, if he can lead, he is pretty genuine,” Svanosio said. “He will take a bit of running down, but he isn’t brilliant out of the gates, so he will probably have to work to find the front.”

That has been the case in his five runs to date, when he’s sat in the breeze on four occasions and led once, and tonight he will likely start second favourite behind Andy Gath’s Thumbs Up, who won on his last start Australian debut.

Svanosio said the scenario was quite different for Crocrock, who will contest tonight’s seventh race, the Flying Brick Cider Pace.

“Crocrock is the opposite, he can run a really quick quarter but Rueslan is probably a bit tougher,” Svanosio said. “Crocrock likes a breather in his races.”

Owned and bred by Alan Parker, the Pet Rock three-year-old gelding is out of Shes A Killer, a 12-time winning mare who’s a half to Earl Of Locksley ($293,983). Crocrock has won three of his 15 starts since winning on his January debut.

“Crocrock probably had his chance (to win) last start (when third), but before that at Maryborough he was really good,” Svanosio said. “He has serious gate speed, so that helps him. His wins have all been in front. If he leads and doesn’t work too hard he will be very hard to beat.”

Stepping out in between the pair tonight is Svanosio’s well-raced trotting three-year-old Pinevale Victoria, who’s regally bred by Terry Forster and Heather Lyttleton, being by Majestic Son out of Running Pinevale, which makes her a half-sister to Big Jack Hammer ($383,123).

She’ll contest the WKE Electrical Geelong 3YO Trot, which streams at 7.32pm on Trots Vision.

“She won three races early in the season and got up in a hard grade,” Svanosio. “Now she is back racing three-year-olds and has gone good. She is ready to break through.

“She probably hasn’t had a suitable draw in ages, she’s got that and if she can lead she will take beating.”

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