Article Phoenix rising again

INTER Dominion big gun Arcee Phoenix (Trixton) heads back to the harness racing trials next week.

The Chris Svanosio-trained star hasn’t raced since snaring the biggest win of his career when he led throughout to win the $NZ600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge in NZ’s North Island on April 4.

It was Arcee Phoenix’s fourth win from just six starts this year.

“He’s going really well and will trial next week,” Svanosio said.

Arcee Phoenix also finished a good third to Keayang Chucky and The Locomotive in the Group 1 Hammerhead at Menangle on March 8.

The six-year-old is yet to contest an Inter Dominion, but has been to Brisbane before.

As a four-year-old he ran a terrific second to London To A Brick in the Group 1 Great Square at Albion Park on July 8, 2023.

Arcee Phoenix currently shares the second line of Inter Dominion betting at $5 with star Kiwi pair Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena.

Boom four-year-old mare Keayang Zahara is the $3.50 outright favourite, but connections have openly said she is “no lock” for the series.

It seems a trotting free-for-all for mares at Melton on June 14 could be her D-Day.

Oscar Bonavena arrived in Sydney last Sunday and has already headed to Brisbane.

“He’ll do his lead-up racing there,” co-trainer Nathan Purdon said. “There’s lots of good options for him.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia