Leap To Fame could become Down Under’s all-time richest pacer on Saturday
A second Inter Dominion title would push him to the top past Blacks A Fake.
by Adam Hamilton
The Inter Dominion has always been a story-making race.
Since the iconic event — the biggest and most famous Down Under — was run for the first time in 1936, it has been littered with champion performances, epic contests and wonderful narratives.
Another two, albeit very different chapters will play out at Brisbane’s Albion Park on Saturday night (July 19) with the $1 million pacing final and $500,000 trotting finals.
The build-up and promotion of this series was always going to be about hometown hero Leap To Fame.
Even the doubters would now struggle to dispute that he is one of, maybe the greatest pacers we have seen Down Under.
Victory will be his second Inter Dominion title, but the $540,000 first prize will make him the all-time richest pacer Down Under.
Leap To Fame will move to $4,630,884 and surpass another former great Queensland pacer and four-time Inter Dominion winner, Blacks A Fake ($4,575,438).
Yes, Blacks A Fake raced almost 20 years ago, but the sad and important reality for Leap To Fame’s bankroll is that prize money hasn’t gone up in Australasia’s major races over that time.
While Leap To Fame’s first Inter Dominion, also at Albion Park in December, 2023, was a contest before and during the series, this has been a procession.
And one that most expect will continue into Saturday night’s final despite the one barrier draw (post position) that Leap To Fame’s trainer/driver Grant Dixon did not want, gate 1.
Leap To Fame’s $1.25 odds (for a $1 bet) are the shortest in Inter Dominion history. The former superstar Kiwi pacer Elsu was closest when he won all heats and the final in the 2005 Auckland series.
Champion Kiwi driver Anthony Butt, who now calls Australia home, has seen the greatest of greats, driven some and against even more, and he now has Leap To Fame top of the list.
“It was always Blacks A Fake for me and Lazarus as a Kiwi, but ‘Larry’ [Leap To Fame’s stable name] is number 1, now,” Butt said. “He’s just so dominant and he’s done it year after year now.
“He’s so far ahead of his rivals in this series, it’s actually scary. He’s won both heats by big margins, in the fastest times of the night and still in second gear.
“The draw doesn’t matter, especially given it’s over such a long distance [3,157 meters]. Even if he can’t hold the lead, Grant [Dixon] won’t get pocketed. He’s just far too good for them. He’s one of those very rare horses where the draws just don’t matter.”
Dixon’s “Plan A” is to try and hold the lead from gate 1, but zippy beginners like Rakero Rebel (gate 2) and Cya Art (4) could have plenty to say about that.
Going into the series, defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo was considered a clear second elect and the only serious danger to Leap To Fame.
Even though Don Hugo won last year’s series while Leap To Fame was sidelined with illness, he did beat the champion in the Miracle Mile on March 8.
But they clashed in last Saturday night’s second round of heats and Leap To Fame beat Don Hugo out of sight, albeit the latter had a torrid run outside the leader, which ruined his chances.
Still, the result saw Don Hugo’s final odds ease from $3.50 to $7 and he could even start longer from a wide draw, gate 6, in the final.
It’s almost impossible to see how he turns the tables — especially over a grueling 3,157 meters, which is made for Leap To Fame — in the space of a week.
Excitingly, if Leap To Fame wins as expected, his owners Kevin and Kay Seymour are holding off any stud offers so he can tackle at least one more Inter Dominion final next year, again at Albion Park.
Now to the trotting series, which is so different to the one the great Just Believe owned and totally dominated back in late 2023 at Albion Park.
This final has depth and is a fascinating mix of ageing, established and emerging stars.
A little like the pacing series, the favorite, Arcee Phoenix, has drawn the pole.
Even his trainer/driver Chris Svanosio says it isn’t an ideal draw – he’s a chance to lead, but far from a lock.
The most likely runner to seriously challenge for the lead is young buck Kiwi trotter Bet N Win, who sailed through the two heats with easy all-the-way wins.
He’s set to start from gate 4 and begins very quickly, but will he be quick enough to get a full length and half on Arcee Phoenix and cross him.
That will go a long way to shaping the result of the race.
The race goes well beyond that pair with the talented, but nutty, Gus absolutely flying. He’s out of the draw so starts from outside the second line.
Gus’ two heat runs have been monstrous and he will relish the long trip.
If he does everything right again and there is some spice between the two favorites early, Gus is a great chance.
Old Kiwi millionaire Oscar Bonavena miraculously made the final after making breaks in both heats.
Like Gus, he’s got the talent and sheer speed to win even though he too is outside the draw.
And talented trotters like Parisian Artiste, driven by popular new mum Tayla French, and London To A Brick, are good enough to win if everything went their way.
Of all the possible narratives in this series, Jess Tubbs is the biggest.
At that last Brisbane Inter Dominions series 19 months ago, Tubbs and husband, Greg Sugars, won the trotting final with Just Believe and snared second in the pacing final behind Leap To Fame with Better Eclipse.
Although Better Eclipse just failed to make the final, Tubbs’ classy mare Rakero Rebel did and is drawn ideally from gate 2.
Tubbs is doing it alone this time after Sugars tragically passed away at just 40 years old, in his sleep, less than three months ago.
