Star Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix smashed through the $1 million prize money barrier with an emotion-charged $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final win.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout him, this horse may well not have raced at all and now he\u2019s here as a six-year-old winning and Inter Dominion,\u201d Svanosio said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s lots of feelings at the moments, emotional, excitement and just relief after such a big build-up \u2026 we did it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arcee Phoenix became just the fifth Aussie-trained trotter to bank over a million with first prize taking him to $1,016,280.<\/p>\n
Later, champion\u00a0rival 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The $540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with $4,630,884 \u2013 surpassing another great Queenslander, Black A Fake\u2019s on $4,575,438.<\/p>\n
McCarthy, who finished fourth on defending Inter Dominion champion, said: \u201cHe\u2019s amazing. He\u2019s not just the greatest stayer we\u2019ve seen, he\u2019s the best horse full stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leap To Fame has now contested seven Inter Dominion races, five heats and two finals, and won them all.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis time it\u2019s more of a relief, the expectation was just so huge,\u201d trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. \u201cWe had a little scare during the week. He bucked and knocked his leg, which he\u2019s never done, but thankfully it wasn\u2019t anything serious.\u201d<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe big studs have been coming hard at us to retire him, but we\u2019ll hold off for at least another year,\u201d Kevin Seymour said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in the game over 50 years and this is the horse we\u2019ve dreamed of getting \u2026 Kay won\u2019t let me retire him, at least not for a while yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important everyone understands the huge role Grant and Trista Dixon have played in making this horse.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cDan\u2019s one of nature\u2019s gentlemen and going through a really hard time. I\u2019d love him to have the trophy and Kay and I will donate $100,000 of the prize money towards Dan\u2019s medical bills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Leap To Fame will have a break before aiming at another first, victory in NZ\u2019s most iconic race of any code, the NZ Cup at Addington in Christchurch in November.<\/p>\n
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