Captains Mistress winning the 2026 Inter Dominion
SPORTING and racing superstars have lauded last night’s epic Inter Dominion final as one of the greatest races of all time in any code.
Cricketing hero Mark Waugh, a passionate racing man, was in raptures with Captains Mistress’ record-breaking win over all-time great and defending champion Leap To Fame in the $1 million feature at Albion Park.
“What a great race! Huge congratulations to Captains Mistress, but has there ever been a better run in defeat in any code than Leap To Fame?” Waugh posted on X.
Former champion jockey and three-time Melbourne Cup winner Glen Boss was blown away by the race and the atmosphere trackside.
“It’s one of those moments you’ll never forget … a real ‘I was there thing’,” he said.
“So often those match races are pumped up and don’t deliver, but that race had it all.
“I was surrounded by non-racing people and they were blown away. The way the crowd lifted and roared when Leap To Fame came off her (Captains Mistress’) back and started to come at her was incredible.
“It was like those great Cox Plates, a bit of a Bonecrusher/Our Waverley Star stoush.
“It’s up with the great races I’ve ever seen. Leap To Fame went down fighting like the great warrior he is, still coming at her with every stride to the line.
“But you’ve got to give credit to the mare as well. She was there to be beaten at the 100m, with the greatest of all hunting her down, and didn’t give in. It was spine-tingling.”
Group 1-winning jockey Craig Newitt, one of Leap To Fame’s biggest fans, left a friend’s 50th birthday for an hour at Albion Park and said: “I’ll treasure it forever.
“What an incredible race. The mare was exceptional to run the time she did and to hold him off, she’s a machine.
“But there’s no doubt who should’ve won. To put in an effort like Larry (Leap To Fame) did doesn’t surprise me because he does it time and time again.
“The gate (barrier draw) beat him and the horse stuck three-wide (Max Delight) getting in his way.
“I left last night flat, but in awe of Leap To Fame’s courage. It was one of the best races I’ve witnessed in any code.”
In a sight almost never seen, the crowd gave Leap To Fame a standing ovation even in defeat as he left the track.
“What a shame there could only be one winner,” said premier driver Kate Gath. “Larry was spine-tingling, but don’t forget Captains Mistress in only a four-year-old mare. Her’s was an astonishing effort to take a full second off the track record and beat him.
“Biologically she shouldn’t have been able to beat him, but she’s so damn freakish she did.
“The greatest race I’ve seen and we should all feel lucky to have witnessed the sheer greatness of these two athletes.”
Brian Hancock, the man dubbed the Inter Dominion “King” with five pacing final wins, was speechless.
“How do you ever top that?” he said. “Of course Leap To Fame should’ve won, horses simply don’t go better than that after so much went wrong.
“But let’s give credit to the mare. Leap To Fame threw down the challenge, and seriously threw it down, at the 150m and she was up to it. She didn’t buckle when just about every other would’ve. She’s a champion, too.”
Excitingly, the two greats are poised to meet again, maybe several times, over the next 12 months.
Leap To Fame will race on into his eight-year-old season instead of starting stud duties.
Captains Mistress’ trainer Jason Grimson said he would twist owner Mick Boots’ arm to delay his plans to retire her to the breeding barn for another 12 months.
Races like the iconic NZ Cup in Christchurch in November the Miracle Mile at Menangle next March are logical clash races.
Hopefully, last night as just a taste of things to come.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
PHOTOS: Toby Coutts
