GRANT Dixon knows this is Leap To Fame’s biggest test yet.
Despite an unrivalled dominance at Albion Park and unbeaten record across three Inter Dominions (seven heats and two finals), Leap To Fame has some damning statistics and wonder mare Captains Mistress to overcome in tonight’s $1 million Ladbrokes Inter Dominion final.
“I definitely think it’s one of his biggest challenges yet, but he’s also had so many challenges in the past. This will be right up with any of them,” Dixon conceded.
Leap To Fame will have to do what he hasn’t been able to do in the past year and what no winner has done in the past five Inter Dominion finals to land his third title tonight.
The past five Inter Dominion winners have either led or sat behind the leader with a lap to run. It is almost impossible see Leap To Fame doing that from the back row (gate 11) with main danger Captains Mistress off the front (gate six).
Leap To Fame led when he won the 2023 and last year’s finals, while Don Hugo led much of the way in 2024. Boncel Benjamin (2021) and I Cast No Shadow sat behind the leader.
So, can Leap To Fame sit outside Captains Mistress and beat her?
His record in races around this 2680m distance (2500m or more) in the past 12 months underlines how hard that will be. He’s tried four times and gone winless, finishing second each time (NZ Cup, Blacks A Fake, Shepparton Cup and Hunter Cup).
Despite that, Dixon is sure the stretch from 2138m in the two qualifying heats to 2680m in the final is a big plus for Leap To Fame.
“I think it helps us a lot,” he said. “But you saw what Captains Mistress did in Melbourne over 2700m against the mares (bolted in and ran super time). I don’t think she’ll have a problem with the distance.
“We’re going to have to make it a real staying test. At some stage we will be running three really strong quarters (400m splits).
“She (Captains Mistress) is super-fast that sheer brilliance is her biggest asset, but Larry (Leap To Fame) is super strong. How the race is run will show which is the greatest asset.”
Despite having 91 starts (for 72 wins) across more than five years, Dixon is adamant Leap To Fame is as good as ever.
“He’s just a superstar to train, just the way that he loves racing, you can feel it in him,” he said.
“Trista (Dixon, co-trainer) and I think he’s as good as ever. He just keeps bringing his best and hopefully will again this week.
“As a trainer and driver, you hope to just not let him down. He’s a champion and you just want to keep doing the right things with him.
“I’d love him to win a third for final for his sake. I think he deserves to be alongside those other great horses.”
Leap To Fame would become just the fourth horse to win three or more Inter Dominion finals. Blacks A Fake holds the record with four, while Im Themightyquinn and Our Sir Vancelot have three.
Latest markets have Leap To Fame and Captains Mistress equal favourites at $2.40.
Doubts linger over Captains Mistress' stablemate, Dangerous, who was found to be lame when inspected by vets earlier this week.
Sensationally backed from $401 into $8 for the final, Dangerous will need to pass another inspection to be cleared to start.
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp
