Phoenix is helping Chris rise

Emerging Victorian trainer Chris Svanosio is taking the next step in his harness racing career and going global.

Svanosio, 42, has increasingly made an impact on his own patch with 694 driving wins and 396 wins as a trainer but will take to the road and air in the coming weeks to chase some seriously big races with stable star Arcee Phoenix.

It all starts at the huge Miracle Mile meeting at Menangle on Saturday night when the Romsey trainer will train and drive Arcee Phoenix (Trixton) in the $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Trotters’ Mile.

Then comes an even bigger trip, the most exciting of Svanosio’s career so far, when he crosses the ditch for next month’s inaugural $NZ575,000 TAB Trot slot race at Cambridge in NZ’s North Island on April 12.

The trip was confirmed earlier this week, with the huge Victorian-based Aldebaran Park using its slot in the race to partner with Arcee Phoenix.

“This is what we’ve been building towards as a stable, being part of the biggest race like we’ll be over the next month or so,” he said.

“This Menangle race has been on the radar for months. It will really suit him, and we’ve been in talks with Duncan (McPherson) and the Aldebaran Park team for quite a while, too.”

“Things really seem on the up in NZ, across all racing codes, and to have a huge new trotting race like the TAB Trot is great for the game.”

“It’s shaping up to be the strongest field of trotters we’ve seen in my time in the game.”

“It will be so exciting to be part of it, taking on so many great trotters. We’ve got a trotter on the way up, and hopefully, he’s good enough to match them.”

“I’ve been to NZ a few times to buy horses and stayed outside of Auckland many years ago for a while, but I’ve never been to any of their big race meetings, let alone had a runner or drive.”

McPherson said partnering with Arcee Phoenix for Aldebaran Park had been a five-month process.

“I tagged this horse back in August, and he’s done everything I hoped and expected since,” he said. “He’ll need to keep improving because this is the best trotting race we’ve seen in this part of the world for more than 20 years.”

But first comes Menangle on Saturday night, where the field won’t be as strong. It is still a challenge for Arcee Phoenix from gate seven (he will move into five after the emergencies come out).

“He’s been racing so well and was only nabbed on the line by Just Believe after doing all the work last time, and we know how good Just Believe is,” Svanosio said.

“I’ve been really happy with him since, and I’m sure he’ll run a huge race.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia