Chris Svanosio will be pleasantly surprised if his Inter Dominion champion Arcee Phoenix can win first-up at Menangle on Saturday night.
The millionaire trotter faces a daunting task as the lone back marker from a 30m handicap in the Group 3 Menangle Trotters’ Cup.
“It’s only 2300m too, which makes it even harder. I don’t know if even Maori’s Idol (a former champion trotter) could’ve won from back there, especially in a huge (14 horse) field,” Svanosio said.
“But there’s a lot more importance to this race than just needing to win it. It’s a starting point this campaign, it’s valuable standing start practice and it’s a trip away from home, which will bring him on even more.”
Making things even harder is the fact two of his major rivals – Gus and Parisian Artiste – get big early head starts off just 10m handicaps. They ran fourth and fifth respectively behind Arcee Phoenix in the Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 19.
Arcee Phoenix and Parisian Artiste haven’t raced since, while Gus franked the form with one subsequent Albion Park race for a stunning 20m win on July 26 and then went for a break.
The trio are all headed for NZ’s iconic $NZ400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot at Addington on November 11.
In the case of Arcee Phoenix and Parisian Artiste, they will clash at Group 1 level in the Bill Collins Sprint at Melton on October 18.
The pair have seen plenty of each other recently, clashing in both trials as they prepared for racing returns.
Parisian Artiste led throughout to beat Arcee Phoenix in the first trial, then the Inter Dominion winner turned the tables when he led and won at Bendigo last Monday week.
Parisian Artiste’s trainer Alex “Alby” Ashwood was pleasantly surprised by the big handicap advantage.
“It’s a ripper race, really strong, but Arcee Phoenix is the class runner and getting a 20m handicap (edge) on him is a good leg up,” he said.
“We’ve been right with him in the two trials and ran home in 26.9sec when second to him last week.
“But it’s no two-horse race. Gus is very good at his best and Im Bobby just keeps winning and flies (away) from the (standing start) tapes, so he could make light work of his 20m handicap.
“Our guy is quite forward in condition and I think this hard racing over the past 12 months, especially in Brisbane, has brought him on again. I think he’ll be even better than he was up there.”
Importantly, Parisian Artiste did lead throughout and beat Arcee Phoenix in the second round of Brisbane Inter Dominion heats, and that off level terms from a mobile start.
While Arcee Phoenix will return home to Victoria after Saturday for a 2760m standing-start race at Melton on Saturday week, Parisian Artiste may stay for another Menangle run.
“That’s the way we’re leaning,” Ashwood said. “Then head back after two Menangle runs for the Bill Collins.”
Im Bobby, trained by hobbyist Eddie Tappe, adds to the powerhouse Victorian flavour in Saturday night’s race as he chases a remarkable eighth successive win.
Amanda Turnbull, who drove him to win at Menangle on August 9, will take the reins again with regular driver James Herbertson committed to a string of Melton drives on Saturday night.
PHOTOS: Dan Costello
