LIKE all involved in harness racing - perhaps more so than most - Chris Svanosio knows just exactly how good Dance Craze is.
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The former Bendigo trainer-driver has all too often for his own liking found himself trailing home the star trotting mare in races aboard the likes of his recent Terang Trotters Cup winner Magicool and the bevy of horses he has driven for other trainers, like multiple Group race winner Tough Monarch.
Which is one of the reasons why it was so gratifying to get one back on the Anton Golino-trained six year-old in the second heat of the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed Gold Series (1650m) at Lord's Raceway on Thursday night.
Svanosio was able to effect a boilover with Norquay, who produced the race of his short career to date, to topple the $1.30 favourite Dance Craze, with the always competitive Margaret Ruth close by in third.
Norquay - a four-year-old - had won just one race in eight starts before being sent to the Svanosio stable, where she is leased by interests in both Bendigo and Terang, including local harness racing identity Peter Svanosio, newsagent Terry Clohesy and Barry Edwards.
She has since won seven times in 14 starts - including three-straight to kick-start life in her new stable - with Thursday night's win on a special night for the Bendigo Harness Racing Club, which was promoting the industry's Team Teal campaign, arguably the standout.
"She's just keeps on surprising," a delighted Svanosio said post-race.
"I was just happy to win one race with her, so every win since has been a bonus.
"She's still only four. She's done a massive job in one prep to go from virtually a maiden to be racing the best mares.
"Everything is a surprise, but we'll just keep looking after her and hope that she keeps on doing a good job.
"(Yabby Dam Farm principal) Pat Driscoll was good enough to lease her to dad and the rest of the owners.
"She'd run second at her last start for Anton Golino, but had been well looked after - we just got her at the right time.
"Pat has always been good enough to lease us horses when we've needed them ... he's really trying to promote the sport."
She's still only four. She's done a massive job in one prep to go from virtually a maiden to be racing the best mares.
- Chris Svanosio
Svanosio revealed he had originally toyed with the idea of running Norquay in last weekend's Terang Trotters Cup.
"She has owners in Terang and I was keen to take her down there, but we thought it would be just a bit close to (Thursday night)," he said.
"So we took her out of Terang and just aimed at this race and it's worked out perfectly."
Perfect in more ways than one as it turned out, with Magicool scoring a convincing win in the Group 3 Terang Trotters Cup and Svanosio quinellaing the race with Kyvalley Finn, before scoring a surprise win over Dance Craze with Norquay at odds of $28.30.
Adding to the thrill for Svanosio, who relocated from Bendigo to Romsey late last year, was the number of owners trackside at Lord's Raceway.
"It's good to have all your owners here. It was a very hard race," he said.
"Dance Craze is just a super mare ... add Margaret Ruth and Moonshine Linda, who has been one of the best fillies for the last few years. To step up and beat those horses is quite a big thrill.
"I've seen Dance Craze a lot and always admired her. To have a mare that can beat her is pretty special."
Asked whether Norquay could measure up to his more experienced trotting stablemates in Magicool and Kyvalley Finn, Svanosio was delighted at the prospect.
"She was a bit behind the other two, but she's catching up very fast," he said.
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