CHRIS Svanosio has given punters a warning by conceding barrier one isn’t ideal for dominant Inter Dominion trotting favourite Arcee Phoenix.
The Victorian trainer-driver’s take is a contrast to betting markets which saw Arcee Phoenix’s odds slashed from $4 to $2.50 after he snared the pole at Sunday’s barrier draw.
“No, I’d rather draw two than one,” Svanosio said. “He’s getting out better, but he can take a few strides to hit top gear and from one, I’ve just got to hope he musters quickly enough to hold them out.
“From two he’d have been able to balance up a bit more and we wouldn’t have had that risk of being stuck back on the inside if something does get across him.”
Svanosio said the most likely danger to cross at the start was his main danger, young Kiwi star Bet N Win, who is drawn in five, but will move down to four if emergency Sir Fahrenheit doesn’t make the field.
Bet N Win, who eased from $3 to $4 after the draw, won both heats of this series by leading from similar barriers, while Arcee Phoenix drew poorly in his two heats and finished a third and a second.
The pair didn’t clash through the heats.
Bet N Win’s co-trainer David White was more circumspect about his star’s chance of leading.
“We’ve got to have a look and we will, but I’m sure we’ll have the speed,” he said. “And you can’t afford to go too hard early, especially over such a long distance (3157m).
But Bet N Win’s driver, Bob Butt, is renowned for aggression when needed and the advantage of leading around Albion Park has never been more pronounced.
Leading NZ media man Greg O’Connor expects Butt to get serious early.
“He’ll be coming out charging. I’ve seen enough of him back home to know that’ll be Plan A,” he said.
Arcee Phoenix and Bet N Win have met just once when the former led throughout to win the TAB Trot at Cambridge in April and Bet N Win disappointed back in fifth spot.
But Bet N Win has since won one of NZ’s biggest races, the Group 1 Rowe Cup, importantly over the long 3200m trip, as well as winning both heats of this series.
The other key players in the $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final – London To A Brick (gate 11), Oscar Bonavena (12) and Gus (13) – will be hoping the two favourites burn early to help them overcome the back row.
