The rise and rise of Arcee Phoenix headlined a golden night for Victorians at the Brisbane Inter Dominion.

The excitement, emotion and relief of Chris Svanosio when Arcee Phoenix sailed away from his rivals was a moment to treasure.

Svanosio had lived his dream and with the treasured memory of his late father-in-law, Dr Alistair McLean, who was such a help shaping Arcee Phoenix early, right at the forefront of his thoughts.

In the run, Svanosio admitted to being a little anxious when Arcee Phoenix overraced and his main danger, young Kiwi star Bet N Win, stalked him on his back.

But Svanosio didn’t know Bet N Win had pulled a show early in the race and driver Bob Butt was having a job just to keep him trotting smoothly.

Just six months or so after the retirement of the great Just Believe, Victoria again has Australasia’s trotting king in Arcee Phoenix.

His Inter Dominion romp followed that TAB Trot win in April at Cambridge.

Now another NZ trip looms. Arcee Phoenix will cross the ditch for the fourth time for his second tilt at the Dominion Trot at Addington in November.

He will be joined on the trip by Leap To Fame, who snared his second Inter Dominion pacing title last Saturday night and will be set for the NZ Cup in November.

The Victorian flavour struck early when top young driver James Herbertson formalised his win in the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship. He had it won before the last heat, but accepted the trophy last night.

It adds to Herbertson’s already bulging CV.

Then it was time for “Team Stanley.”

First, Mick Stanley’s daughter Annabelle saluted in the pony trot final.

Still buzzing with joy, Stanley then watched another of his favourite females, star three-year-old filly Soho Americano, punch through along the sprint lane to win the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

The monkey was off the back.

“I’d finished second in eight (major) Oaks finals before that and at the top of the straight I thought I was going to get another second, but she really lifted, It’s such a thrill,” Stanley said.

“Rob Watson (owner-breeder) has been my biggest supporter and it’s great to win another Group 1 for him.”

Stanley gave the reins to Luke McCarthy, who won the Queensland Oaks for the seventh time in the past 15 years.

It set the scene for Arcee Phoenix’s triumph.

Like Stanley, Svanosio had a night of double delight.

While Arcee Phoenix was still cooling down, Svanosio trained and drove former US mare Aldebaran Arcux to thrash her rivals in the trotting consolation.

“She’s come so far and got so much stronger. It’s a thrill to share this one with Duncan (McPherson, owner),” Svanosio said.

Throw in the brave performance of Parisian Artiste (fifth) in the trotting final, an eye-catching fourth from Seathestars in the Derby and that flashing fourth from Manhattan Chick in the Oaks and there was much to be excited about as a Victorian.