LEAP To Fame’s stranglehold on Brisbane Inter Dominion favouritism has been shaken up after emerging pacer Dangerous stormed to a record-breaking trial win at Albion Park today.
Having his first public appearance for trainer Jason Grimson, Dangerous smashed Leap To Fame’s 1660m track record with a 1min48.3sec. That took 0.3sec off the mark Leap To Fame set on March 22, last year.
But the record stands because today was only a trial.
Dangerous led throughout to beat stablemate and champion mare Captains Mistress by 4.1m.
Grimson drove Dangerous himself and the splits for the last mile were remarkable at 28.7, 27.0, 25.7 and 26.8sec.
Amazingly, Dangerous opened $501 for the $1 million Inter Dominion pacing final on July 18. He is now into $3.60.
Top NSW reinsman Cam Hart knows the horse well and as Grimson’s stable driver, is expected to partner Dangerous in the opening round of heat on Saturday week/
“I’m close with ‘Sando’ (Shane Sanderson), who used to train the horse and I’ve driven him before,” he said.
“He’s always had lots of ability. Remember he won a heat of the (2024) Inter Dominion in Sydney and ran well (fifth) in that final.
“I’m not surprised he’s come out and done something like that today. You’d have to say he’s going to be a factor in the series now, especially with some good draws.”
Dangerous stirs memories of when Grimson first burst into the big league by transforming Boncel Benjamin from a battling pacer to win the 2021 Sydney Inter Dominion final on protest.
He did something similar the following year to win the Melbourne Inter Dominion final with I Cast No Shadow.
Hart noted how strongly Captains Mistress hit the line under a tight hold Dangerous in the trial.
“I looked like she could’ve gone past him,” he said. “It’s amazing to think she could be pulling against the driver when they’re going times like that, but she’s a freak.”
Captains Mistress will chase an Inter Dominion berth through Saturday week’s $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun.
The winner of the Rising Sun gets a golden ticket into the July 18 Inter Dominion final.
“That’s been the plan all along with her,” Hart said.
PHOTO: Dangerous - HRNSW/Brett Atkins
