Dominion contenders clash at Menangle on Saturday night

By Adam Hamilton 

Inter-Dominion champion Arcee Phoenix headlines a clash of three key Renwick Farms Dominion Trot contenders at Menangle on Saturday night.

The Group 3 Menangle Trotters’ Cup looks a vital form pointer to NZ’s most iconic trotting feature at Addington on Tuesday, November 11..

Arcee Phoenix hasn’t raced since his Inter Dominion final win at Albion Park on July 19 and faces a daunting task as the lone backmarker off 30m.

In contrast, Gus and Parisian Artiste, who ran fourth and fifth respectively in that Inter Dominion final, gets a valuable early head start off just 10m.

Adding to the fantastic depth of the race, Australia’s most improved trotter Im Bobby, is going for his eighth successive win off a 20m handicap.

Parisian Artiste’s trainer Alex “Alby” Ashwood is buoyed by the handicap advantage.

“It’s a cracking race,” he said. “Arcee Phoenix is the star of the race, so getting a 20m handicap (start) on him is a good leg-up.

“In saying that, Gus is also off 10m and Im Bobby, who flies the tapes, is off 20m.”

Parisian Artiste has been primed for his return with two recent trials against Arcee Phoenix, beating him in the first one then running his own last quarter in 26.9sec when second at their latest clash at Bendigo last Monday week.

Ashwood thinks Parisian Artiste’s terrific Brisbane campaign, which included an Inter Dominion heat over Arcee Phoenix, has taken him to another level.

“He missed most of his racing for two years with setbacks and, as you know, it takes them a year or two of solid racing at the very top level to get used to it,” he said.

“He’s had that now and I think he’s better now than Brisbane.”

Parisian Artiste may stay in NSW for another Menangle race before returning to Melton for the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint (October 18) as his final lead-up to NZ.

“He’s booked for NZ and all going well in these next few runs, he’ll go over after the Bill Collins,” Ashwood said.

“He’ll have the two runs at Addington and then we’ll look seriously at going to Auckland after that.”

The gifted but often wayward Gus also adds plenty of interest to the race.

He raced once after the Inter Dominion final for a sparkling Albion Park win and has young gun Cam Hart aboard this week.

It’s a probable pointer to NZ with Hart going across to drive Swayzee in at the same time.