Standardbreds starring in Australia then being sold to race in the USA is commonplace these days within the industry.
It happens on a weekly basis.
But, horses coming back the other way – that is a rarity.
And, for it to happen with a juvenile trotter, well, that is even rarer.
It was the case on Tuesday at Albion Park as three-year-old square gaiter G O A T stepped out on debut in Australia and could not have been more impressive at his first outing.
Champion standardbred Mr Feelgood famously starred in America before heading to Australia to win the Inter Dominion crown at the Gold Coast in 2009.
On the other hand, G O A T left North America with just one victory on his resume.
While all those years ago, Mr Feelgood was a Little Brown Jug winner before relocating to Australia.
The driver and trainer of G O A T - Rickie Alchin – would be over the moon if his ‘Yankee’ trotter could emulate those feats but for now he is keeping the goals smaller for the three-year-old.
The multiple Group 1-winning Alchin heads to Redcliffe annually to set up shop for The Queensland Constellations and he was keen to have his stable newcomer in his travelling party.
“I like the horse and wanted the horse here with me in Queensland,” Alchin said.
“I thought he was quite good first-up, it was encouraging. He hit the line well and I only trialed him the once at Menangle, which was last week, and he won that trial and was still a little bit green.
“He is a really good gaited horse and I still think he has a bit to learn as that was the first time he had raced over any distance further than a mile.
“I was really happy with how he hit the line with the distance and I think he should keep improving.”
The voice of harness racing in Queensland Chris Barsby was at his best when the newcomer to the Sunshine State scored over 2138 metres on Tuesday in the trotters mobile event.
“Let’s see what the Yankee has got,” Barsby said as Alchin got some clear air in the home straight.
The colt scored by almost eight metres in the end after starting as an $18 outsider in the market from his front row draw.
It was the first time he had been extended further than a mile under race or trial conditions.
The emerging trotter is a son of champion American stallion Walner and won once from eight attempts before he was exported to Australia.
He had three Menangle trials with trainer and driver Darren Hancock before he was transferred to Alchin’s barn.
“Glen Holland purchased the horse being by Walner and he went to Darren to train initially,” Alchin said.
“Darren asked me to then take on the horse after a while and I have had him for about four weeks.
“They had to import the horse obviously as he raced over there and won a feature race. My job was just to get him going.”
Alchin was quick to remark that he does not have a specific agenda with G O A T but there are some tasty options in the coming weeks.
He and the American’s ownership group could look towards upcoming features such as The Great Square and the Queensland Trotters Derby.
Barsby pointed out in the call on Tuesday that The Great Square would be a viable option for the juvenile.
Alchin is keen to let the colt acclimatize in Australia and progress through the coming weeks.
“I would like to think so,” he said when asked if he believes G O A T is up to carnival races.
“Whether it’s too much too soon, we will let him tell us that. He is a good doing horse and he pulled up well from Tuesday.
“From his credentials in America and then that first-up win, I am sure he is being looked at for a race like The Great Square.”
The 37-year-old Alchin has been in the Sunshine State for a week and has brought up a slightly smaller team compared to recent years for the Constellations.
From the rest of Alchin’s travelling party, he has Jive Master in a heat of the Redcliffe Yearling Sales Series for two-year-olds on Wednesday evening, aiming to qualify for the Listed Final later this month.
“I expect him to qualify,” he said.
Group 1 champions Lux Aeterna and Soho Spectre – who are heading towards The Rising Sun - have also accompanied the trainer north of the border and are down to trial at Redcliffe on Thursday.
The $355,000 The Rising Sun will be held at Albion Park on July 13.
Lux Aeterna will enter the Queensland Constellations on a high, after being crowned the 2023 Australian 2YO Pacing Filly of the Year.
The filly collected over $359,000 in stakes from nine wins and three placings in 12 starts last year, including the Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge Final.
Lux Aeterna will also become the first three-year-old filly to contest The Rising Sun.
‘That will work out if we go to the Redcliffe Oaks and Derby with them,” he said of Lux Aeterna and Soho Spectre’s upcoming trial.
“I am keen to give them a look at the track.”
