Leap To Fame after winning the 2025 Inter Dominion
THE rise of Queensland harness racing has never been more evident than this next chapter of the sport’s most iconic event, the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion.
Led by the amazing Leap To Fame, arguably the greatest pacer this part of the world has seen, Queensland has dominant favourites in both the $1 million pacing final and $500,000 trotting final.
Leap To Fame is $1.60 favourite in the pacing final and Gus is just as short to win the trotting equivalent.
For context, only once in the past 47 years has the host state won both finals. Victorians Markovina and Derby Royale won the finals at Moonee Valley way back in 1978 and since then, only NSW pair Don Hugo and The Locomotive (Menangle in 2024) have done it again.
Further to the home state dominance, emerging star The Janitor is $5 second favourite for the pacing final.
This from a state which was, as the state’s chief harness racing Chris Barsby says. “considered a dumping ground” for horses no longer good enough to race in NSW or Victoria just 10-15 years ago.
It has been a remarkable transformation, one many believe was sparked by the 2001 Inter Dominion at Albion Park, won by former Kiwi star Yulestar, who fittingly has the street adjacent to the track named after him.
Not only was that a hugely successful and memorable series, but soon after it Queensland unearthed superstars in Be Good Johnny, Slipslide and then the mighty Blacks A Fake. All were jets on an Australasian stage and Blacks A Fake is an immortal with six Inter Dominion starts for a record four wins and two seconds.
There have been ebbs and flows since, but then along came Leap To Fame.
Queenslanders, or most Australians to be honest, never thought we would see another pacer quite like Blacks A Fake.
But Leap To Fame is as good, maybe better.
Were it not for illness in late 2024, Leap To Fame would almost certainly be going into tonight’s opening round of Inter Dominion heats trying to equal Blacks A Fake’s record four Grand Final wins.
Instead, he will be chasing a third, which only Blacks A Fake, Our Sir Vancelot and Im Themightyquinn have done.
Leap To Fame will also be chasing another record, or a slice of one. Victory in the July 18 final will make him equal with Lazarus and Westburn Grant for the most Australasian Group 1 wins on 18.
If “Larry”, as he’s affectionately known, can win this final, he will complete the transition from champion horse to Queensland sporting legend.
But younger rivals like The Janitor and champion mare Captains Mistress are coming at him.
The stage is set.
ABOUT THE LADBROKES INTER DOMINION
HOW IT WORKS
· Two rounds of compulsory qualifying heats (July 4 and 11).
· Top points scorers in both the pacing and trotting heats go through to $1 million pacing final and $500,000 trotting final respectively on July 18.
· Wildcard ticket into pacing final for winner of the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun on July 4 (a race for three and four-year-olds).
· Same applies for trotting final through the $150,000 Group 1 Great Square on July 4.
ADAM HAMILTON’S KEY FIVE
PACING SERIES
1. LEAP TO FAME ($1.55)
2. THE JANITOR ($6)
3. CAPTAINS MISTRESS ($6)
4. BAY OF BISCAY ($26)
5. DANGEROUS ($4)
TROTTING SERIES
1. GUS ($1.55)
2. SUSAN IS HER NAME ($5)
3. LOVEMETO ($14)
4. ARCEE PHOENIX ($18)
5. ROCKINWITHATTITUDE ($14)
PHOTO: Dan Costello
