Max Delight and Will Rixon winning the 2026 Nullabor
TOP young driver Will Rixon was as frustrated as anybody how last Saturday night’s epic Inter Dominion final played out in the early stages.
Rixon became a target for angry and ignorant punters when his drive, star veteran Max Delight, was trapped three-wide and eventually had to snag back to last in the first lap of the $1 million feature at Albion Park.
In doing so, Leap To Fame was following Max Delight and also went back through the field, although his trainer-driver Grant Dixon did have the option to hook four-wide and move around Rixon’s drive.
“It all started when things didn’t go to plan in the first 100m and Minos didn’t go down to the inside like almost everyone thought he would when they mapped the race,” Rixon told Gareth Hall’s Giddy Up show.
“Things were still ok and I was pushing forward three-wide to get outside the leader, but then Jye Coney really set Dangerous alight outside of me and I didn’t have the speed to hold him out.
“When Dangerous got around me and outside the leader, it was clear I wouldn’t get that spot, so I had no option but to drag back or be stuck three-wide for the entire race.
“It surprised me a bit that Grant (Dixon) didn’t pull around me earlier.”
Ultimately, when Rixon got Max Delight back near last, he was four-wide and Dixon was able to take Leap To Fame inside him and start surging around the field to sit outside the leader and eventual winner, Captains Mistress.
Many felt that the first 600-700m of the race contributed to Leap To Fame’s narrow defeat in record-smashing time.
Rixon was aware of the public backlash.
“It was disappointing at the time,” he said. “It was a difficult night for me. You look forward to these big nights and it's certainly not how I wanted it to go.
“A lot of what came at me I thought was pretty unfair to be honest.
“On the flipside, it’s shown the amazing support I’ve got from the people around me. The number of people who got in touch and offered their support has been very cool.”
Rixon has turned the page and is looking forward to an extended holiday in the US from early next month.
“I’ll be taking in plenty of racing and will be there for the huge Hambletonian Day (at the Meadowlands),” he said.
“I’m staying with Toddy McCarthy and will get around to a lot of the race meetings.
“I’m taking my driver’s bag, too. I’m hoping to pick up a few drives while I’m over there to add to the experience.”
PHOTO: Pacepix
