Arcee revs engine ahead of Inter Dominion campaign

By Tim O'Connor and Bronte Nieuwenburg

Arcee Phoenix built his case for favouritism in next month’s Inter Dominion Trotting Championship with an arrogant first-up win at Melton on Saturday night.

Having his first run since claiming a slot race in Cambridge during April, the six-year-old sat parked for more than a lap and roared away from his rivals in the home straight to claim victory. 

Harold Smith grabbed second ahead of Im Bobby, who darted home along the inside to finish third.

Arcee Phoenix’s next appearance will be in the opening round of Inter Dominion heats at Albion Park on July 5, with bookmakers rating him second favourite for the grand final at $3.50 behind New Zealander Bet N Win ($3.20).

“Obviously I had the option to follow Mufasa Metro early, but I was happy to do a bit of work on him and find out where he’s at. He’s probably carrying a few extra kilos, so a good hit-out will do him good hopefully,” Arcee Phoenix’s trainer and driver Chris Svanosio said.

“Touch wood, everything has just been perfect since he’s come back from New Zealand. We were able to give him three easy weeks, a bit of time at the water walker and I was worried I was cutting it a little bit fine maybe to get him fit, but he’s just come up so good.

“I’m hoping he comes through that run good and we will look to get him up to Queensland next weekend.”

Arcee Phoenix has quickly emerged as Victoria’s best chance of claiming Inter Dominion glory with news that gun trotters Keayang Zahara and Susan Is Her Name won’t be contesting the time-honoured series.

“We’ve been trying to worry about our horse but obviously they’re some highly-talented horses that aren’t going to be there, so we’re hoping we’re there fit and well,” Svanosio said.

“There’ll still be some really nice horses there, but we think this bloke’s ready to take them all on.”

Emma Stewart trained a winning double with Sir Jimmy – who upset fancied pair The Narcissist and Fighter Command – and Sweet Bella, while James Herbertson marked his return to Saturday night Melton racing with victories behind Im Dustee and Aldebaran Abel.

The 2025 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship will be contested across just two rounds of heats (July 5 and 12) and a 3157 metre Final (July 19).

Meanwhile, Shane Sanderson and Atua Magic are set to head to Queensland to contest the richest juvenile race in Australia, the $500,000 Protostar.

The unbeaten youngster will race for the Willowood Farms slot in the 1660 metre event at Albion Park on July 12.

Atua Magic, a colt with prestigious breeding, was purchased from the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sale in Auckland by Paul and Daniel Lowry and went into the care of Sanderson in Murchison North.

He is by Bettors Delight out of Double Twist, a mare from the same family as King Of Swing. 

He is now owned by a group including the Lowrys and Willowood Farms.

"I believe he will be a very, very good horse, but I think he’ll be even better with time," Sanderson said of the lightly-raced colt.

"I still think he has the ability to be competitive, because otherwise we wouldn’t be going. But, I think as he matures, especially next year, he’ll be a very good horse."

Atua Magic has had two starts in Australia and delivered comfortable, impressive victories at both Shepparton and Bendigo.

The stable is also taking talented mare Gotta Hav Me north for the carnival.

"Gotta Hav Me is coming up to run in the lower mares’ races up there," Sanderson said.

Sanderson will be based at Redcliffe for the carnival, a track where he previously trained before relocating interstate.

"We’ll be staying in Redcliffe. I’m from there, so that’s where we’ll be based," he said.

"The Protostar is a great concept and we’re very positive and excited to be part of it. He’s a promising horse and we’re so excited to be part of the Protostar."

Atua Magic joins the four other runners currently confirmed for the 2025 Protostar, including Rewatch (Ladbrokes slot holder), Showmethetanlines (GSM Racing), and Cardigan Dan (Ballarat and District Trotting Club and Durham Park).