Arcee Phoenix wins second Maori Mile

Talented square gaiter Arcee Phoenix (Trixton) scored one of his best harness racing wins when he stormed down the outside to take out the $75,000 Group 1 Aldebaran Park Maori Mile at Bendigo last night and in doing so repeated his success in the same race 12 months ago.

Backed into second favourite behind Queen Elida, Arcee Phoenix was settled back in the field by driver Chris Svanosio. Stable mate the speedy Aroha Koe took over the lead from She’s Ruby Roo who had shown pace from the pole position.

Favourite Queen Elida was caught outside the leader and Chris Alford had no option but to go up and pressure the leader. Arcee Phoenix unleashed a strong sprint along the back straight but he was out three wide.

By getting a breather running the second quarter in only 32.1 seconds the leader Aroha Koe was going to give a great sight and he was still in front on the final bend. Queen Elida was grinding away but Arcee Phoenix was continuing his momentum and he finished too strongly to defeat a gallant Queen Elida with Aroha Koe in third placing.

Chris Svanosio was thrilled following the race.

“He’s had it tough this horse. He’s been in New Zealand a few times. Everybody at home loves him and we couldn’t be prouder of him. It wasn’t ideal they weren’t going hard enough for me. But he’d be good enough. That’s one of his great strengths. He’s pretty versatile so to sit three wide in the last 800 metres he actually did it quite good. So I couldn’t be happier with him. When we visited New Zealand the first time, he’d been up for 18 months he went to Queensland, then to the Great Southern at Melton and the VicBred series so he was probably past his best. We were just looking to give him a break. But then we thought he could go back on the second occasion”.

“But this horse has improved again”.

It’s obvious that Arcee Phoenix has developed with age and is a stronger trotter this time in. And this will make him a strong Great Southern Star contender at Melton on 1 February.

Queen Elida showed a good return in being the runner up. Inter Dominion runner up Keayang Chucky broke in the score up and took no effective part in the event.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink