Star Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix smashed through the $1 million prize money barrier with an emotion-charged $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final win.
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 and 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.
Later, 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 last 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, Black A Fake’s on $4,575,438.
McCarthy, who finished fourth on defending Inter Dominion champion, said: “He’s amazing. He’s not just the greatest stayer we’ve seen, he’s the best horse full stop.”
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 dreamed 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 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.