Harness racing: Trainer Chris Svanosio has belief Arcee Phoenix can realise Inter Dominion dream
Chris Svanosio's hunger to win an Inter Dominion has been building for 33 years.
The emerging Romsey horseman was just 10 years old when he watched the great Westburn Grant fend off a luckless Franco Tiger to win the 1992 Inter Dominion pacing final at a packed Moonee Valley.
'I got the bug, big time,' he said.
'I remember being crammed up the back of the grandstand and having to stand on my tippy toes to watch.
'I've been lucky enough to have a few runners in Inter Dominion heats, but I've never had a finalist.
'For people my age (43), the Inter Dominion is the ultimate, especially now the prizemoney has been boosted for this Brisbane series.'
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All that looks set to change with by far the best trotter Svanosio has trained, the exciting Arcee Phoenix.
The six-year-old lived in the shadow – like so many others – of the great Just Believe for a year or so, but burst out of it with the biggest win of his career in the $NZ600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge in New Zealand's North Island on April 4.
Yes, he didn't have the now retired Just Believe to contend with, but Svanosio knows his horse has improved, too.
'I left that same race a year earlier knowing he had to find a couple of lengths to be one of the very best and I think he's done that,' he said.
Arcee Phoenix steps out for his first race since that Cambridge win when he tackles a very competitive Yabby Dam Farms Trotters' free-for-all (1720m) at Melton on Saturday night.
Fitness won't be an issue judging by the six-year-old's sparkling Melton trial win last Tuesday week.
'I'm know horses like Don Hugo and Leap To Fame have already had a couple of races since going to Cambridge, but I had to do what's right for my horse and he needed some extra time out,' he said.
'I was really happy with his trial and now he's got this run before we head north and get ready for the first round of (Inter Dominion) heats (on July 5).'
The Aussies have done it! 🇦🇰
Arcee Phoenix (C Svanosio) takes out the $600,000 The TAB Trot in Cambridge, New Zealand, leading home an Australian trifecta, with Queen Elida second and The Locomotive third.
Congratulations to connections. pic.twitter.com/PhzctlHSMz
— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) April 4, 2025
Arcee Phoenix is an old hand at travel now, having had three return trips to NZ over the past 15 months and Brisbane trip two years ago.
'All those things have helped him develop,' Svanosio said.
'That last trip to Cambridge was the best he's handled it. It gives you a lot of confidence heading to Brisbane again.
'It's also great he's been up there (Brisbane) before and had a sighter at the track.'
That was in July, 2023 when Arcee Phoenix ran a fantastic second to London To A Brick – who will be a key rival again this trip – in the Group 1 Greatg Square.
Svanosio confirmed he would take his improving US-bred mare Aldebaran Acrux north with Arcee Phoenix.
'She's earned it. Last week was her D-Day and she won really well at Melton,' he said.
Two of Arcee Phoenix's major Inter Dominion rivals – star Kiwi pair Oscar Bonavena and Bet N Win – also step out on Saturday night.
Oscar Bonavena, who opened his Queensland raid with an easy Albion Park win last Saturday, should repeat the dose at the same track, while Bet N Win will be a commanding favourite in a 2300m trotting free-for-all at Menangle.
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