Arcee Phoenix, bred by Finley’s Ashley Haynes and Chris Shaw, will contest the $600,000 TAB Trot Slot in the Night of Champions meeting at Cambridge in New Zealand’s North Island.
And Arcee Phoenix had luck in the draw for the race conducted on Monday night, coming up with barrier two with fellow Victorians, Just Believe and Callmethebreeze drawn alongside him in barriers three and four.
‘‘It (the draw) is perfect really, and he should get every chance from there.“ Haynes said.
Nagambie’s Aldebaran Park owner Duncan McPherson has parted with $50,000 to secure temporarily ownership of Arcee Phoenix for the race.
A lightly raced five year-old, Arcee Phoenix warmed up for the lucrative 1609m dash with an upset win over Australia’s best trotter Just Believe at Melton Saturday night week and has been in New Zealand for a week preparing for another stoush with Just Believe and Callmethebreeze, who will be driven by Shepparton’s Nathan Jack, and New Zealand’s best trotters.
In his latest win, Arcee Phoenix produced a blistering PB 1.53.5 mile rate which was only 0.4 of a second outside the Melton track record.
Haynes is in a syndicate, which includes his Victorian trainer-driver Chis Svanosio and prominent former Victorian veterinarian Alister McLean, who race the outstanding trotter.
Haynes flew to New Zealand yesterday to be at the race.
Before departing, he said he was looking forward to the experience, and hopefully a win.
Arcee Phoenix has won 11 of his 33 career starts with 14 minor placings, netting more than $270,000 in prize money so far.
The Night of Champions at Cambridge is being streamed live at TrotsVision.com.au, from 2pm Friday with the TAB Trot scheduled for 5.52pm.
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