Svanosio’s three-pronged Inter Dominion attack set to launch

Chris Svanosio finds it hard to distinguish between Arcee Phoenix’s victories in last year’s Group 1 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Final and the TAB Trot slot race in New Zealand as the ultimate highlight of his stellar harness racing career.

While it not quite at that level yet – with a heavy emphasis on the yet – what the former Bendigo trainer-driver has managed to do at this Inter Dominion Championship is right up there in terms of standout moments.

Svanosio will have three starters in this Saturday night’s $500,000 Group 1 trotters final at Albion Park in Brisbane, headed by the defending champion Arcee Phoenix.

A three-pronged attack for the stable is bolstered by Gotfeelingsyouknow and Lovemeto, making Svanosio, who has been based for the last six years at Romsey, the best represented trainer in the field.

His father Peter, a long-time Bendigo harness racing identity and former local club committee member, has shares in two of the stable’s chances, Arcee Phoenix and Gotfeelingsyouknow, who finished one-two, in that order, in one of last Saturday night’s heats.

While the barrier draw was not kind to all three, with Arcee Phoenix drawing in the middle of the back row in 11, Lovemeto on the inside of the back row in 8 and Gotfeelingsyouknow in 3, Chris could not be happier with their progress through the heats and is confident they can make their presence felt in a crack field, headed by superstar Queensland local

Gus and the David Miles-trained Rockingwithattitude.

“They all had a hit-out at Albion Park (on Wednesday morning) and they all seemed pretty good,” he said.

“I guess time will tell.

“Arcee Phoenix was good last Saturday night and the others trotted not too badly and are going well.

“To have all three go so well through the heats and win both the heats last Saturday night, it’s been pretty good so far, but it’s going to be a lot harder again on Saturday night.

“No doubt Arcee Phoenix has drawn the worst, but I’m hoping he can get into the race somehow.

“There’s a fair bit of speed off the front with a couple of them, so if I can get him away safe, hopefully I can settle in front of a few and then might have to make a move around to the breeze at some stage.”

Barrier draws aside, Svanosio rated Arcee Phoenix’s lead-up to this year’s final as on a par with last year’s.

He finished third in his round one heat a fortnight ago, won by Gotfeelingsyouknow, but turned the tables on his stablemate to win last Saturday night in a thriller by a short-half-head.

“I feel he’s getting back to his best,” he said.

“He’s the best horse I’ve had – won over a million (in prize money).

“He’s had a couple of big years of travelling, but he always runs a good race.”

Svanosio could not fault the form of either Gotfeelingsyouknow and Lovemeto, who bounced back from a sixth on the opening night to win his heat last Saturday night.

“Gotfeelingyouknow is going to need some luck early to find a spot, while Lovemeto has drawn inside the second row,” he said.

“He was great in his heat last week, but will need the breaks at the right time.”

Lovemeto, a six-year-gelding by What The Hill, will be driven by champion reinswomen Kerryn Manning.

The Great Western-based Manning, who turned 50 last Friday, will break an Australian record on Saturday night by driving in her 17th Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Final.

She previously shared the record with the late and great Gavin Lang.

Only New Zealand Hall of Famers Anthony Butt and Tony Herlihy have driven in more trotters finals with 19 apiece.

Remarkably, Manning is still chasing her first win in the race.

She came closest to winning it in 2002 when she partnered the champion Andy Gath-trained mare La Coocaracha into second spot behind Game Bid.

Lovemeto is part-owned by Kiwi Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer Graeme Rogerson, who has made no secret of his desire to add an Inter Dominion as an owner, to his Group 1 Melbourne Cup triumph as a trainer with Efficient (2007).

Young gun local Angus Garrard will again take the reins behind Gotfeelingsyouknow as he has through the heats.

For Svanosio, one of the best parts of the Inter Dominion experience up north has been having his father alongside him.

Now in his 80s, Peter Svanosio is still assisting Chris with his big team of horses in Romsey, making the trek from Bendigo at 5pm each morning to help out where he can.

“It’s the longest he’s ever been away from home in his life, being up here for three weeks,” Chris said.

“If we can win it with one of them, we’ll send the trophy back with him in Bendigo.”

A Bendigo Harness Racing Club life member and committee member for more than four decades, Peter Svanosio couldn’t be prouder to see his son with three ‘nice’ chances in an Inter Dominion final.

“To have three in final of an Inter Dominion is something you spend your life dreaming about,” he said.

“It’s a pretty special effort to have qualified, but I just don’t know how it’s going to play out after that barrier draw.

“Whatever happens, I’m hoping Chris will come back again next year.

“He has some really nice trotters, so there’s no reason why a couple of them won’t be good enough to come up here again.”