Emerging Victorian trainer Chris Svanosio has the travel bug.

And it’s easy to see why after he beat the Kiwis on their home soil with his stable star Arcee Phoenix in the $NZ500,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge earlier this month.

Now the Romsey-based horseman is plotting trips to Sydney and Brisbane.

Sydney comes first with his improving US-bred trotting mare Aldebaran Acrux, who will target the $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile at Menangle on May 10.

Then big gun Arcee Phoenix will target the Brisbane Inter Dominion series at Albion Park in July.

“It’ll be a busy time, but an exciting time,” Svanosio said. “We’re in the game to compete in the big races and it’s great to have horses good enough to do that.”

Aldebaran Acrux has been a work in progress, but her 11 runs this year have shown she’s gone to another level.

“She was terrific winning at Melton last week and that’s what really convinced us to have a crack at the Menangle race,” Svanosio said.

“She’s been going well all campaign over a variety distances, but a sprint race at Menangle against her own sex should really suit her.

“I know it’ll probably mean bumping into Keayang Zahara, but it’s still a suitable race for our mare.”

Aldebaran Acrux will cap her preparation when she takes on a small but strong 2240m trotting free-for-all at Melton on Saturday night.

“It’s a tough race this week, especially drawn out and with Harry Stamper and Aldebaran Zeus drawn inside us,” Svanosio said.

Her rivals also include multiple Group 1 winning mare Im Ready Jet – another likely to head to Sydney – and Great Southern Star winner Watts Up Partytime.

“I’ll just be hoping she hits the line well this week and shows she is right on target to go back and take on the mares in Sydney,” Svanosio said.

“She’s raced at Menangle once before and didn’t handle the track, but that was a long time ago and her manners are so much better now.”

Arcee Phoenix will return to track work next week after a short break following his career-best win at Cambridge.

“He was home two days after the race and had 10 days off. Now he’s almost finished 10 days on the water walker and it’s back onto the training track Monday,” Svanosio said.

“Winning over there (NZ) was a huge thrill and he’s right in the peak of his career now, Arcee Phoenix.

“I’m really looking forward to getting him up to the Brisbane series. He’s been to Albion Park once before and just got beaten in the (Group 1) Great Square.

“It suits him to have the series cut back from three rounds of heats to two and he loves the track. I’m sure he’ll be one of the biggest chances in the series.”

Picture: Race Images NZ