Chris Svanosio finds it hard to distinguish between Arcee Phoenix\u2019s victories in last year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Svanosio will have three starters in this Saturday night\u2019s $500,000 Group 1 trotters final at Albion Park in Brisbane, headed by the defending champion Arcee Phoenix.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
His father Peter, a long-time Bendigo harness racing identity and former local club committee member, has shares in two of the stable\u2019s chances, Arcee Phoenix and Gotfeelingsyouknow, who finished one-two, in that order, in one of last Saturday night\u2019s heats.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Gus and the David Miles-trained Rockingwithattitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all had a hit-out at Albion Park (on Wednesday morning) and they all seemed pretty good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess time will tell.<\/p>\n
\u201cArcee Phoenix was good last Saturday night and the others trotted not too badly and are going well.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo have all three go so well through the heats and win both the heats last Saturday night, it\u2019s been pretty good so far, but it\u2019s going to be a lot harder again on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo doubt Arcee Phoenix has drawn the worst, but I\u2019m hoping he can get into the race somehow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barrier draws aside, Svanosio rated Arcee Phoenix\u2019s lead-up to this year\u2019s final as on a par with last year\u2019s.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel he\u2019s getting back to his best,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the best horse I\u2019ve had \u2013 won over a million (in prize money).<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s had a couple of big years of travelling, but he always runs a good race.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cGotfeelingyouknow is going to need some luck early to find a spot, while Lovemeto has drawn inside the second row,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was great in his heat last week, but will need the breaks at the right time.”<\/p>\n
Lovemeto, a six-year-gelding by What The Hill, will be driven by champion reinswomen Kerryn Manning.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She previously shared the record with the late and great Gavin Lang.<\/p>\n
Only New Zealand Hall of Famers Anthony Butt and Tony Herlihy have driven in more trotters finals with 19 apiece.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, Manning is still chasing her first win in the race.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
Young gun local Angus Garrard will again take the reins behind Gotfeelingsyouknow as he has through the heats.<\/p>\n
For Svanosio, one of the best parts of the Inter Dominion experience up north has been having his father alongside him.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the longest he\u2019s ever been away from home in his life, being up here for three weeks,\u201d Chris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can win it with one of them, we\u2019ll send the trophy back with him in Bendigo.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Bendigo Harness Racing Club life member and committee member for more than four decades, Peter Svanosio couldn\u2019t be prouder to see his son with three \u2018nice\u2019 chances in an Inter Dominion final.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo have three in final of an Inter Dominion is something you spend your life dreaming about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty special effort to have qualified, but I just don\u2019t know how it\u2019s going to play out after that barrier draw.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever happens, I\u2019m hoping Chris will come back again next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has some really nice trotters, so there\u2019s no reason why a couple of them won\u2019t be good enough to come up here again.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chris Svanosio finds it hard to distinguish between Arcee Phoenix\u2019s victories in last year\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n