Latest news with #InterDominion
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
West Coast trying to join four-peat club in Grand National Steeplechase
The four-peaters are a rare breed. The most recent, obvious adored four-peater was Winx, who won four Cox Plates in a row. Mic drop. Yeats won the prestigious Ascot Gold Cup four times and in harness racing Blacks A Fake won the Inter Dominion four times, but not in a row. There have been five-peaters (now there is a term you really don't hear that often). The great Australian sprinter Manikato won the William Reid Stakes five straight years from 1979 to 1983. Then there is the king of the peats, Koral. The big southerner won the Homeby Steeplechase at Riccarton seven times and finished second another. They got so sick of etching his name on the trophy they simply named the race after him. Which brings us to the $200,000 Racecourse Hotel Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton today. It is the 150th running of the iconic race, which could have so easily been lost had jumps racing been canned. But today's 5600m is a chance for West Coast to join Winx, Yeats and the Penrith Panthers in the four-peat club. West Coast is a magnificent horse. Big, raw-boned but with a certain nobility in the way he stands. What is notable is the way he has carried 73kg in almost every steeplechase he has contested in the past two years, including his second and third Grand Nationals. There is no doubt he is the most accomplished horse in today's Grand National but eventually something has to give. West Coast is now a 10-year-old and carries 7kg more than favourite Jesko, even though the latter has been our form steeplechaser this winter. West Coast may have carried that same daunting weight to win the last two years but there was no Jesko in those races. To rub salt in the wounds, Jesko has stolen West Coast's regular rider Shaun Fannin, who trains the former and so obviously rides him. West Coast will still be our great racing warrior and he will still do what he always does in the home straight today: continue to go forward. But will he join the four-peaters? That may depend on what toll the step up to 5600m takes on Jesko. He had too much speed and too little weight for Captains Run and West Coast in the Koral (yep, that one) last Saturday and if today's race was over the same 4250m trip Jesko would start $1.30 again. But whether his leg speed burns quite so brightly, after 5000m and with 600m more to go, might decide this race. Earlier in the day, West Coast's stablemate Berry The Cash tries for one of those aforementioned three-peats in the Grand National Hurdles. He faces the same weight issues as West Coast but his arch-rival Dictation has been scratched so history awaits him. Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald's Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world's biggest horse racing carnivals.
The Australian
24-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Wagering hike ‘shows value of Inter Dominion in Queensland'
Wagering on the 2025 Brisbane Inter Dominion series has smashed a string of records. The three-night series at Albion Park bucked the national wagering trend to return a thumping 12.4 per cent increase – $6,799,000 compared to $6,051,000 – on the last Ladbrokes Brisbane Inter Dominion in December, 2023. It was by far the biggest turnover meeting in Queensland harness history, representing a 23 per cent hike on the corresponding meeting last year, headlined by the Group 1 Blacks A Fake. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'It shows the value of having the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion back in Queensland, not just this year, but for the next two years as well,' Racing Queensland's senior racing manager Andrew Clarke said. 'That's crucial. We always felt whatever we achieved this year, we could really build on by having the iconic series three years in a row. 'We're thrilled to set a turnover record and crowning our own local champion Leap To Fame again added another layer. Throw in another Queenslander, Speak The Truth, running second and it was a golden night for the sport. 'It was really important for us to get lots of interstate flavour and the Kiwis back across. To have the Kiwis finish second and third in the trotting final will surely attract more of them back next year.' • Singo doesn't Hesitate with Eureka slot pick This year's Inter Dominion was condensed from four to three nights of racing – two rounds of heats into finals. Average betting per race across the three nights compared to the 2023 series grew by 20.2 per cent from $446,000 to $536,000. 'It was terrific to see really strong figures around the trotting races, too. It really vindicates running the pacing and trotting series' together,' Clarke said. Favourites won both finals with Leap To Fame at $1.22 and Victorian star Arcee Phoenix backed into $2.60 in the trotting final. Albion Park chairman Greg Mitchell said a full review was planned despite the strong wagering results. 'We're obviously thrilled with the wagering figures, but the people came along, too. We had a record modern crowd on the final night. 'When you've got such a big event for three years, you can and must always learn from year one,' he said. 'We know we didn't get everything right and we're taking all the feedback on-board as part of our review.' • Hawkes hoping to land The Everest-Eureka slot race double One of the major talking points was the marathon 3157m distance for the finals. 'Whether we need them that far or 2680m is far enough will be something we look seriously at,' Mitchell said. But Mitchell backed the innovative 'bonus points' system used for the first time in Brisbane and which enabled star Kiwi veteran Oscar Bonavena to make the trotting final and finish a huge third. 'You want the best horses getting into the finals and by reducing the number of heats from three to two, it's important we have mechanisms for unlucky horses to get extra points when it matters,' he said. 'We're committed to the bonus points, but that's not to say we won't tinker with how they work.' • Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Wagering hike ‘shows value of Inter Dominion in Queensland'
Wagering on the 2025 Brisbane Inter Dominion series has smashed a string of records. The three-night series at Albion Park bucked the national wagering trend to return a thumping 12.4 per cent increase – $6,799,000 compared to $6,051,000 – on the last Ladbrokes Brisbane Inter Dominion in December, 2023. It was by far the biggest turnover meeting in Queensland harness history, representing a 23 per cent hike on the corresponding meeting last year, headlined by the Group 1 Blacks A Fake. • 'It shows the value of having the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion back in Queensland, not just this year, but for the next two years as well,' Racing Queensland's senior racing manager Andrew Clarke said. 'That's crucial. We always felt whatever we achieved this year, we could really build on by having the iconic series three years in a row. 'We're thrilled to set a turnover record and crowning our own local champion Leap To Fame again added another layer. Throw in another Queenslander, Speak The Truth, running second and it was a golden night for the sport. 'It was really important for us to get lots of interstate flavour and the Kiwis back across. To have the Kiwis finish second and third in the trotting final will surely attract more of them back next year.' “A MODERN DAY CHAMPION, BECOMES RACING ROYALTY.â€� The champion, the superstar â€' LEAP TO FAME â€' is now a dual Inter Dominion winner after dominating the $1 million Grand Circuit feature on home turf. What. A. Horse! 🌟 #QLDisRacing — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 19, 2025 • This year's Inter Dominion was condensed from four to three nights of racing – two rounds of heats into finals. Average betting per race across the three nights compared to the 2023 series grew by 20.2 per cent from $446,000 to $536,000. 'It was terrific to see really strong figures around the trotting races, too. It really vindicates running the pacing and trotting series' together,' Clarke said. Favourites won both finals with Leap To Fame at $1.22 and Victorian star Arcee Phoenix backed into $2.60 in the trotting final. Albion Park chairman Greg Mitchell said a full review was planned despite the strong wagering results. 'We're obviously thrilled with the wagering figures, but the people came along, too. We had a record modern crowd on the final night. 'When you've got such a big event for three years, you can and must always learn from year one,' he said. 'We know we didn't get everything right and we're taking all the feedback on-board as part of our review.' He's done it again! Hear from Grant Dixon after Leap To Fame's Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final win, and the crowd just love it! 🥳 @TheCreekAlbion @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025 One of the major talking points was the marathon 3157m distance for the finals. 'Whether we need them that far or 2680m is far enough will be something we look seriously at,' Mitchell said. But Mitchell backed the innovative 'bonus points' system used for the first time in Brisbane and which enabled star Kiwi veteran Oscar Bonavena to make the trotting final and finish a huge third. 'You want the best horses getting into the finals and by reducing the number of heats from three to two, it's important we have mechanisms for unlucky horses to get extra points when it matters,' he said. 'We're committed to the bonus points, but that's not to say we won't tinker with how they work.'
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sweet Ideal and Keayang Zahara put Victoria's Western Districts back on harness racing map
First it was Keayang Zahara, now Sweet Ideal is putting Victoria's Western Districts back on the harness racing map. The region is famous for its dairy farming, but the great Gammalite had something to say about that back in early 1980s. Leo O'Connor's mighty Terang stayer won 94 races, including two Inter Dominions (1983 and '84), was a dual Australian Horse of the Year and the first pacer in this part of the world to top $1 million in prize money ($1,386,480). Still today, as you drive into Terang, the welcome sign says 'Terang – home of Gammalite.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Terang and surrounding areas have produced some nice horses since, but the hype is huge again now. Keayang Zahara, who is nearing a racetrack return, is a potential champion. She won her first 15 starts, including a string of features in Australia and NZ, before suffering her first defeat at her latest run at Menangle on May 10. The freakishly gifted four-year-old is nearing a racetrack return for the Lee and Craven clan at Ecklin South, 15 minutes outside of Terang. Keayang Zahara has made a strong return to the track, winning the Hertz Melton Trotters Free For All with Glen Craven in the sulky. A touching moment, with Craven wearing the colours of Greg Sugars on a night remembering the champion reinsman at Melton Entertainment Park. — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) May 3, 2025 • It's about the same distance to Camperdown, where one of Australia's exciting pacing mares is trained by veteran horseman Gary Lawlor and his son, Daryll. Sweet Ideal has won seven of her 14 starts and shown the dazzling sort of speed that will propel her into Group 1 races. Like so many in the game, the Lawlor's have had some nice horses along the way, but never a genuine star. Bad Billy has been the best. He won 18 races, including a Hamilton Cup. He contested three heats of the 2018 Inter Dominion and also ran second to millionaire pacer Colt Thirty One in the 2019 Group 2 Queensland Cup at Albion Park. Despite just starting her career, Sweet Ideal has snatched the mantle. A Mighty win! Sweet Ideal storms up the outside to claim the Lionheart Security Pace at Melton tonight for trainer Gary Lawlor and driver Darryl Lawlor! — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) July 19, 2025 'She's the best we've had,' Gary Lawlor said. 'Not only is the real deal, but it's so special because we've had this breed for 60 years, going back to my father, Joe. 'She's closely related to Bad Billy. Sweet Ideal is out of a half sister to Bad Billy (Lagertha). 'This mare is the best. She can do anything, stay, sprint and find plenty at the finish.' There's even a Lawlor family connection back to the great Gammalite. 'He was at our property as a foal. His mum (High Valley) was here to get in foal again with Gammalite as a foal at foot,' Lawlor said. Lawlor revealed the Sweet Ideal fairytale was almost over before it began. 'She came back from a breeding property with the mum (Lagertha) when she was just 10 days old and got pneumonia and colic,' he said. 'We rushed her to the vet where Simon (Pearce) and his wife (Alex) saved this girl's life and then cared for her until she recovered.' Sweet Ideal will be favourite to add another win in race six at Melton on Saturday night and, as always, it will be a family affair with Daryll in the sulky. 'It's a great time to have the best horse we've had. I was an electrician at Bulla (ice cream company), but retired now and can really enjoy her with Daryll and the family,' Gary said. Lawlor admits to watching on with interest as Australia's champion mare Eye Keep Smiling posted her 10th successive win and completed back-to-back Group 1 Golden Girl wins at Albion Park last Saturday night. 'I think she'll handle the step-up and follow any speed,' he said. 'She's going for a break after this race, then we'll come back for big races like the Vicbred and Breeders Crown.'
Courier-Mail
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Leap To Fame races to Inter Dominion glory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. CHAMPION rival driver Luke McCarthy hailed Leap To Fame the greatest pacer he had seen after the Queensland champion romped his way to a second record-breaking Inter Dominion pacing final win at Albion Park on Saturday night. In front of a packed and one-eyed local crowd, Leap To Fame romped away for his 22nd successive win at his home track and his 56th win from just 69 lifetime starts. The $540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with $4,630,884 – surpassing another great Queenslander, Blacks A Fake's $4,575,438 stakes tally. McCarthy, who finished fourth on defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo, said: 'He's amazing. He's not just the greatest stayer we've seen, he's the best horse full stop.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Leap To Fame has now contested seven Inter Dominion races, five heats and two finals, and won them all. He started the shortest priced favourite ($1.22) since the Inter Dominion began in 1936 and, after being crossed at the start, worked around to take the lead and was never in danger. 'This time it's more of a relief, the expectation was just so huge,' trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. 'We had a little scare during the week. He bucked and knocked his leg, which he's never done, but thankfully it wasn't anything serious.' Leap To Fame became just the eighth pacer to win multiple Inter Dominion finals and owners Kevin and Kay Seymour hinted strongly at chasing a third crown, which only three other pacers have done (Blacks A Fake, Im Themightyquinn and Our Sir Vancelot). 'The big studs have been coming hard at us to retire him, but we'll hold off for at least another year,' Kevin Seymour said. 'We've been in the game over 50 years and this is the horse we've dreamt of getting … Kay won't let me retire him, at least not for a while yet. 'It's important everyone understands the huge role Grant and Trista Dixon have played in making this horse.' In typical Seymour fashion, he said the winning trophy would go to Albion Park track photographer, Dan Costello, who is facing a huge battle with cancer. 'Dan's one of nature's gentlemen and is going through a really hard time. I'd love him to have the trophy and Kay and I will donate $100,000 of the prize money towards Dan's medical bills,' he said. Leap To Fame will have a break before aiming at another first, victory in NZ's most iconic race of any code, the NZ Cup at Addington in Christchurch in November. Earlier, star Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix smashed through the $1 million prize money barrier with an emotion-charged $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final win. Arcee Phoenix wins the Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final Picture: Dan Costello Trainer-driver Chris Svanosio praised his late father-in-law, Dr Alistair McLean, for his guidance with Arcee Phoenix as a talented but raw youngster. 'Without him, this horse may well not have raced at all and now he's here as a six-year-old winning the Inter Dominion,' Svanosio said. 'There's lots of feelings at the moments, emotional, excitement and just relief after such a big build-up … we did it.' Arcee Phoenix became just the fifth Aussie-trained trotter to bank over a million with first prize taking him to $1,016,280. · Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp. PHOTOS: Dan Costello Originally published as Superstar pacer Leap To Fame streaks to effortless Inter Dominion victory
