Leap To Fame winning his 2nd Heat of the 2025 Inter Dominion
LEAP To Fame looks as close as possible to unbeatable in next Saturday night's $1 million Inter Dominion Pacing Final.
Not even today's barrier draw - shown live on Sky Racing 2 at midday Brisbane time - will change that.
The long-awaited fourth clash between him and defending Inter Dominion champ Don Hugo proved a one-act affair after an incident-packed second round heat clash last night.
While most expected Don Hugo to lead, he was forced to sit parked and Leap To Fame ended-up stalking him in the one-one trail.
The race changed dramatically when Kiwi raider Pinseeker got fired-up on Don Hugo’s back and driver Jonny Cox opted to cut him loose and take the lead in the middle stages.
“He just took, started kicking the wheels and was uncontrollable. He’s done it before, but not that bad,” Cox said.
Pinseeker stopped sharply and was retired from the race. He didn’t qualify for the final.
Leap To Fame made his move at the 500m, charged around to take the lead and coasted to a 10.1m win in a sizzling 1min53.7sec mile rate for the 2680m, just 0.9sec outside his own track record.
The shock was Don Hugo, who did endure a torrid run, tiring so badly to finish back in eighth spot.
It’s almost impossible to see how he could turn the tables in the final, especially given the stretch to 3157m.
It was an all Queensland night in the pacing heats with local trainer Shannon Price winning the other two.
In last night’s first heat, talented local Sure Thing Captain made it a clean sweep in the heats with another easy all-the-way win.
The five-year-old led throughout on night one and repeated the dose for driver Adam Sanderson from gate four last night.
“He’s always had the ability and it’s great to see him putting it all together at a time like this,” Price said.
“We drew well and didn’t have to race Leap To Fame or Don Hugo in the heats, so we’ve had our share of luck but made the most of it.
“The 3157m is going to be a new test again next week because this was as far as he’s raced tonight (2680m) and even this was his first try over this longer trip.”
Old marvel Max Delight qualified for his third Grand Final with a fighting second after sitting outside Sure Thing Captain last night.
David Aiken’s nine-year-old ran fourth to Boncel Benjamin way back in 2021 then third to Don Hugo at Menangle last year.
“Just he did on night one, he was struggling a bit when they really flew around the last bend, but dug in and hit the line really well. I love him,” driver Will Rixon said.
Price then won the second heat in all-the-way fashion with Speak The Truth, who won a heat of the 2023 Brisbane and made the final.
“That’s great. It’s so good to get them both through, now we need some more luck with the draws for the final,” she said.
PACING FINAL FIELD: Leap To Fame, Sure Thing Captain, Captains Knock, Don Hugo, Petes Said So, Rakero Rebel, Max Delight, Catch A Wave, Tims A Trooper, Cya Art, Speak The Truth, Aroda, Nyack (emergency).
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STACEY White just wants one more slice of good luck.
White and husband, David, were all smiles after young trotting star Bet N Win made a clean sweep of the Inter Dominion heats, albeit in slightly different style last night.
While the five-year-old led throughout on opening night, driver Bob Butt led again, but opted to take a sit on the talented but headstrong London To A Brick when challenged in the early stages.
Bet N Win picked up well late in a sizzling last half to win by 3.5m with London To A Brick second and the flying Gus in third spot.
Bet N Win ran his own last half in 56sec flat and a closing quarter in 27.9sec.
“I just hope we haven’t used up all our luck with these good draws in the heats,” Stacey White said. “We need one more good one tomorrow (Sunday) at the final draw.
“Tonight was perfect. Another softish sort of run to top him right off for the final.”
Amazingly, the other Kiwi trotting hopeful Oscar Bonavena snuck into the final despite galloping in both heats.
A new initiative of bonus points for sectional times, gained Oscar Bonavena three extra points and just scraped into the 12-horse field next Saturday.
Last night was another horror show.
Driver Adam Sanderson tried to nurse him out from barrier one, but galloped soon after and lost all chance. Vitally, recovered and weaved through traffic to run sixth.
Talented Victorian Parisian Artiste was taken to the lead by new mum, Tayla French, and gave nothing else a chance in a slick 1min57.6sec mile rate for the long 2680m trip.
Final favourite Arcee Phoenix lost no admirers with a fighting second after making a midrace move to sit parked.
TROTTING FINAL FIELD: Bet N Win, Gus, Parisian Artiste, Arcee Phoenix, Not As Promised, Golden Sunset, Harry Stamper, Constantinople, Oscar Bonavena, Love Gun, Zealous Spur, London To A Brick, Sir Fahrenheit (emergency).
PHOTO: Dan Costello
