Golden opportunity for Prince to book his ID22 ticket

Romsey trainer Chris Svanosio is hoping for second time lucky with Brandlo Prince when it comes to an Inter Dominion Trotting Championship.

Svanosio had planned to take Brandlo Prince to last year’s series in New South Wales.

Unfortunately, a slight setback forced those plans to be abandoned and instead he sent the gelding for a spell.

Svanosio again has his eyes on an Inter Dominion campaign with Brandlo Prince – this time in Victoria in November and December.

He believes Brandlo Prince’s form is good enough to get him into the championship.

What would lock this objective in as a certainty is a win in The George Gath (2240m) at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday night.

The $24,000 Group 3 feature carries a golden ticket for the winner into the Inter Dominion – guaranteeing a start in the series.

Brandlo Prince has drawn the pole – alongside reigning Inter Dominion champion Maori Law – and is coming off a last-start win in the Group 3 Coulter Crown (2760m) at Melton on August 20.

“He was terrific and deserved the win,” Svanosio said.

“He’d been running really good races against some of the best trotters and hadn’t been far behind them.”

These runs included a fourth to Adelle in the John Slack Memorial Trotters Cup in Ballarat and a third in the Wagon Apollo Free For All in Bendigo, with Maori Law finishing second in each.

“With the good draw hopefully he can settle near the top,” Svanosio said.

Svanosio said it would be “fantastic” to get a golden ticket into the Inter Dominion.

“It would make it so much easier knowing for sure you were in,” he said.

While the busy racing schedule of three heats in a week and a final a week later does not suit every horse, Svanosio believes it will sit comfortably with Brandlo Prince.

Svanosio is working a team of 34 at the moment, including 18 trotters, of which six are racing on the all-trotting nine-race program at Melton on Friday night.

Four are in group races and this is how Svanosio sees the other three:

WHOS THE MAN (Group 2 Delvin Dancer 4YO Classic)

A tough draw in seven. Pleased with his effort in the Coulter Crown against older and more seasoned horses. Did not have much luck and was not too far away. Would be happy if he ran into a place.

GRACIAS (Group 2 Bob Conroy 2YO Classic)

Rapt with his last-start second in Geelong  – his third career start and first run in Australia since arriving from NZ. This is a big step-up in class and still do not know a lot about him. If he can run a good race, he will be targeted at some of the better races later this season.

ARCEE PHOENIX (Group 1 TAB Need For Speed 3YO Prince Final)

Great run in the heat when third after racing outside the leader. Hoping he can find a forward spot and settle in front of some of the better ones. He beat Cravache Dor two starts ago and has been sharpened up by the heat run.

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