Arcee Phoenix went three better than last year to win the TAB Trot $600,000 slot race at Cambridge in NZ’s north island last Friday night.
The Chis Savnosio trained and driven trotter is named after legendary Kilmore Assumption College football and cricket coach Ray Caroll (hence the Arcee) worked to the front early in the 2200metres event and was never headed, holding off fellow Victorian Queen Elida in a two horse war to the finishing line.
Former Shepparton trained The Locomotive finished third.
Arcee Phoenix was bred by Finley butcher Ashey Haynes, who now races the seven year-old with a syndicate of owners.
Haynes has bred and has raced some very smart trotters over the years and Arcee Phoenix has given him his biggest thrill in the sport with his dominant win.
‘‘You don’t win races like that every day,’’ said Haynes
Arcee Phoenix was having his first start since winning the Scotch Notch Memorial feature at Melton on March 22.
He has always been a top flight trotter, competitive against the best in Australia and New Zealand from the start of his racing career, but this is his greatest win.
Last year in the same race he finished fourth to the Australian super trotter Just Believe, who has since been retired.
Arcee Phoenix will now prepare for the Inter Dominion Trotters Championship to be staged in Brisbane in July.
The son of Trixton has now faced the starter 49 times for 15 wins, nine seconds and five thirds.
His prize money earnings ballooned to nearly $700,000 with the first prize cheque of $300,000 from his latest win.
And are there any more budding Arcee Phoenix’s in the Haynes breeding barn?
Arcee Phoenix’s dam, the Sundon mare Jusa Phoenix, has a perfect record in the breeding barn with four other winners from five foals.
A Trixton colt, a full brother to Arcee Phoenix, is being offered at this year’s yearling sales.
Another of her progeny, a two year-old by Majestic Son, is currently being educated by Shepparton horseman Patrick Ryan.
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