by Adam Hamilton

It is looking very much like a Leap To Fame versus the Kiwis scenario in the much anticipated $1 million New Zealand Cup in Christchurch on Nov. 12.

Leap To Fame won’t just lead the Aussie charge, he now looks like the only serious Australian winning hope as the great race gets closer.

Victorian trainer Jess Tubbs’ Auckland Cup winner, Better Eclipse heads across this week, but his past two runs have been below his best and he would need to lift.

New South Wales (NSW) trainer Jason Grimson, who famously won last year’s New Zealand Cup with Swayzee, may not even make the trip this year. At varying times, he has had Major Moth, Nerano and District Attorney penciled-in.

District Attorney is out after his Victoria Cup flop on Oct. 12, while Major Moth and Nerano ran miles below their best behind Leap To Fame in a 2,300-meter free-for-all at Menangle last Saturday night.

So, we come back to Leap To Fame.

Queries over his New Zealand raid were answered when he powered to victory in quick time and dominant style at Menangle last Saturday.

He’s back and he’s into $1.80 (for a $1 bet) to become just the third Aussie-trained pacer to win the New Zealand Cup since 1987.

Two young Kiwi stars Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming lead the locals trying to fend-off Leap To Fame.

They clashed in a traditional New Zealand Cup lead-up, the Ashburton Flying Stakes, on Monday where Merlin had a slightly better run and was too zippy late for a brave Don’t Stop Dreaming.

Merlin’s win was his 20th from just 31 starts, while Don’t Stop Dreaming, who boasts 15 wins from 30 starts, did run a terrific second to Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup back in February.

Leap To Fame is booked on a flight to NZ on Sunday and could meet Merlin and/or Don’t Stop Dreaming in a trial at Addington next Tuesday.

NEW HOME FOR THE INTER DOMINION

The Inter Dominion is Down Under’s biggest brand and most iconic event.

It has been challenging times in recent years with changing spots on the calendar, diminishing prize money and, as a result, interest waning from New Zealand and even some top Aussie stables.

But things are looking up.

This week it was revealed the Inter Dominion was set for a significant prize money injection and a new home – at least for three years.

Queensland, or Brisbane’s Albion Park to be precise, will play host to the series for three years, starting in July next year.

Before then, NSW will play host to the last of the “old rotation” from Nov. 29 to Dec. 14, this year.

It means there will be two Inter Dominions in the next eight months.

As part of the Queensland deal, the pacing final purse will soar from $500,000 to $1 million, while the trotting series to be run in conjunction will culminate with a $400,000 final, up massively from $150,000 in NSW this year.

Another key difference to the Inter Dominion when it moves to Queensland will be the switch from three rounds of qualifying heats to just two.

That’s something which will divide opinions given many feel the series has been built on its grueling format of three rounds of qualifying heats into a final in the space of just two weeks.

But the breed has changed and there are now lots more marquee races for our best horses, especially with the advent of slot racing.

It’s a huge ask to race our best horses four times in two weeks – especially with only moderate prize money for the qualifying heats.

Trimming back to two rounds of heats feels a reasonable compromise.

“The Inter Dominion is steeped in tradition, and boasts a long and storied history with Queensland,” Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said. “Our homegrown superstars like Blacks A Fake and Leap To Fame are synonymous with the series, and we are honored to bring it back for a further three years as the centerpiece of the famous Queensland Constellations.

“We’ve been able to secure the event for three years as a result of collaboration between current host partners, Racing Queensland, Harness Racing Victoria, Harness Racing NSW and Club Menangle along with HRA.

“The move from summer to winter will ensure Australasia’s best standardbreds are on show, in what is set to be an exhibition of the best Queensland harness racing has to offer.”

Harness Racing Australia chairman Graeme Campbell OAM praised Queensland’s commitment to the great series.

“We are delighted to work with Racing Queensland and Albion Park to give the Inter Dominion a significant prize money increase and a fixed ‘home’ for three years from 2025 to 2027,” he said.

“The Queensland Constellations in winter has grown considerably in recent years with lots of innovation and bringing the Inter Dominion into it will take it to another level.”

The Inter Dominion, first run in 1936, has been held in Queensland seven times. Albion Park hosted last year’s series for the first time in 23 years where champion local pacer Leap To Fame won the pacing final on Dec. 15.

Leap To Fame looks the biggest benefactor of Queensland’s move, given he is still just five and could tackle at least the next three series.

He is already a commanding favorite to successfully defend his crown in the Menangle Inter Dominion final on Dec. 14.