He was runner-up in last season’s edition and is a short-priced favourite for Saturday night’s final, but you may be better off backing his stablemate.
That’s pretty much how trainer Chris Svanosio views the Vicbred Super Series four-year-old trotting entires and geldings’ decider in Melton.
Svanosio has two runners in the field – Arcee Phoenix and Aroha Koe – with the former dominating betting.
Second behind Cravache Dor as a three-year-old, Arcee Phoenix heads the TAB Fixed Odds market at $1.60 despite his draw.
Winner of his heat in Bendigo last week, the trotter will begin from barrier 12 with Svanosio to take the reins.
Also successful during the qualifying rounds, Aroha Koe has drawn to search for the lead from gate three.
To be driven by Ross Payne, the exceptionally-bred gelding is the $5 second elect.
By Love You, Aroha Koe is from Inter Dominion-winning squaregaiter, Sumthingaboutmaori.
The squaregaiter is named after his father as Aroha Koe is Maori for ‘Love You”!
“I don’t think there is a lot between the two,” Svanosio said. “Arcee has probably earned favouritism, but the draw evens them out a bit.
“If Aroha finds the front, whichever beats him will have to put in a pretty big run!”
Citing Courage Stride as the biggest threat to his pair, Svanosio is also wary of Keayang Chucky.
Courage Stride has drawn the inside of the back row, with Keayang Chucky to come from barrier 11.
“Courage Stride has been racing free-for-allers and proving very competitive,” Svanosio said. “He has to be the one to beat, while Keayang Chucky has come back in top form this time in and has to be respected.”
A total of $1.5million in prizemoney goes up for grabs across the 12 races on Saturday night, with the wall-to-wall TrotsVision coverage headed up by Ryan Phelan, Kirsten Graham, Brittany Graham and caller Dan Mielicki.
TUNE IN at MELTON on Saturday
First Race: 5.30pm Last Race: 11pm
Racecaller: Dan Mielicki with Ryan Phelan, Kirsten Graham and Brittany Graham on TrotsVision.
TrotsVision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: LISTEN LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE
Winner of the Week
NEVER ENDING, by Sweet Lou out of Endless Journey, at Gloucester Park on September 8.
Breed your next winner with Woodlands Stud, supporter of Trots Centre
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