Big things ahead for Great Southern Star champ

After a thrilling victory in the Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star, French trotter Callmethebreeze (Trixton) will soon add another stamp to his passport when he heads to New Zealand for April’s TAB Trot slot race.

But before that, trainer Anton Golino plans to showcase his talented trotter to the Australian audience a couple more times.

“At this stage we will go to the Grand Prix in two-and-a-half weeks (February 24 at Melton), after that we will go to the Hammerhead in Sydney (Hammerhead Trotters Mile – March 9 at Menangle). After that, the main target will be the slot race in New Zealand (April 12 at Cambridge Raceway),” Golino said.

Callmethebreeze won both his heat and final of the Great Southern Star on Saturday night, defeating dual Inter Dominion champion and last year’s victor Just Believe in the process.

“It was so good for the whole team, the guys here that work for me in the barn. I am very proud of them. My partner Sara, she’s a massive help to me as well, keeping these horses sound,” the Cardigan-based trainer said.

“Pat and the whole team. That was probably the most satisfying thing for me, getting to see everyone enjoy it.”

Golino spoke to the relief he felt after the weekend’s victory.

“There was a lot of pressure with the horse. I put myself under a lot of pressure,” he said.

“It’s a high-profile horse. It’s something new for us getting a horse like that. Usually, we develop them from young horses. It was a new experience for all of us.

“I was probably shocked a bit as well. He went massive in both heat and final, he was super.”

The Trixton-sired stallion proved he was more than just a fast horse on Saturday night.

“I wasn’t sure how tough he was,” Golino said.

“He proved that he fights, and he stuck his head out and tried harder. That shows to me now he’s very versatile. He can come from behind or be in the frontend.

“He pulled up good. His recovery was great. It obviously took a little bit out of him.

“He will have a pretty light week, but I am happy with how he pulled up.”

Although confident in his horse’s ability, Golino knows that he will still need luck to defeat Australasia’s best trotters in April.

“Oscar Bonavena is absolutely flying at the moment,” Golino said.

“There is no one better than Mark Purdon. He’s the GOAT (greatest of all time). I am sure he will have him 110 per cent.

“Not sure where the other ones are at. It’s never easy. When you get to that level, they can all run fast.

“Like always, we will need a lot of luck.”

by Bronte Nieuwenburg, for Harness Racing Victoria