By Michael Guerin
Special Force has added another scalp to his trophy cabinet - jet lag.
The Interdominion Grand Final winner has beaten every rival that matters this season but faced the toughest test of his career when he started the trip of a lifetime on Sunday morning.
But just a leisurely 49 hours and half the globe later, Special Force was kicking his heels up at Solvalla racetrack in Stockholm, Sweden.
The sensational trotter amazed trainer Dave McGowan with how professionally he handled the toughest trip in racing.
"Dave said it was 49 hours from the time he left our front gate till he arrived in his paddock," said stable foreman and Special Force's driver Todd Mac Farlane.
"But Dave rang us shortly after they arrived to say it all went incredibly smoothly."
Special Force had stopovers in Singapore and Dublin before ending his trip with an eight-four float trip to Stockholm.
"He drunk a lot of water on the way and ate an entire bale of hay and Dave said he didn't seem at all fazed by the travelling."
After a busy season Special Force is a more experienced traveller than McGowan, whose short trip to the summer carnival in Melbourne was his first outside New Zealand.
Special Force will now start his new training regime, aimed at sharpening him for the main aim of his trip, the Elitlopp at Solvalla on May 30.
The race is the biggest trot in Europe and attracts the world's best.
There are two heats and a final held over mobile miles on the same day.
McGowan wanted to transport Special Force to Sweden as early as possible to enable him to acclimatise as well as train in heats to prepare for the Elitlopp format.
McGowan will drive Special Force is his Swedish debut on May 5, with MacFarlane taking the reins for a May 16 race and the Elitlopp.
"So far we couldn't be happier and Dave took enough of our local feed to last the trip, which should be a big help," said MacFarlane.
Champion trotting mare Pride Of Petite was competitive in the same races three years ago and Special Force's blazing gate speed looks his biggest advantage as he attempts to improve on his fellow Interdominion champion's European performances.
Horse Racing: Horror trip no trouble to Special Force
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.