Leap To Fame - can the champion do it?

[Chief Stipe]

 

Grant Dixon's nod to enthusiastic son on the big stage

16 July 2025

 

By Jordan Gerrans and Andrew Smith

 

 

For someone who drives and trains one of the greatest pacers in the history of the sport, Grant Dixon is almost as understated and low-key as it gets. 

It takes a fair bit to get the 52-year-old legendary harness man up and about. 

Even now and a few years into Leap To Fame’s dazzling career on the track, Dixon is still relatively softly spoken at the best of times when it comes to his stable megastar. 

He let his guard down on one occasion, however. 

When his imposing stallion strolled to the 2023 Inter Dominion championship on home soil, he gave a rare salute across the finish line. 

As the decider for the 2025 ID series rolls around this week at Albion Park, Dixon has revealed that it was his keen harness-loving son Jai who wanted him to salute the crowd a couple of years ago. 

With Queensland’s pin-up harness horse judged a $1.18 shot with the bookmakers to win Saturday’s Group 1 prize, there is every chance young Jai has been in his father’s ear this week, as well.

“I did it more for his sake, not myself, as that is not my go,” he said with a wry smile when asked about the 2023 salute. 

The Dixon family at the recent harness awards ceremony.Https://bitofayarn.com

“My boys have a bit of lairising in them. I do not know where they get it from because it does not come from their mother, either – I don’t know.

 

“It was a life-time dream-come-true to win one. You sort of pinch yourself that you are in line to maybe win two.

 

“It would be really great if he could get it done.”

 

Young Jai’s nudge helped create one of the most iconic images in the history of the sport with Dixon saluting in front of a packed grandstand. 

 

Jai is a keen participant in the mini trotting ranks in the Sunshine State and could well follow his parents into the driving and training ranks in the coming years.

 

Leap To Fame’s $1.18 quote in the decider will be one of the shortest-priced runners in an ID Grand Final ever.

 

The great Leap To Fame has gone through the two weeks of ‘ID25’ heats with an unblemished record ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final.

The six-year-old entire has drawn the one alley for the decider, which will be run and won over the lengthy staying journey of 3157 metres.

Saturday night's marathon distance is the longest Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final in modern history.

That is why many pundits and punters believe Leap To Fame has a second ID crown at his mercy as several in Saturday’s field are untested over the trip.

“It is better than barrier eight for him,” Dixon said of drawing the one starting gate while referencing his recent draws in the heats. 

“I think the two mile, probably to a degree will stop some from going too hard off the gate because they all need to go that extra lap.

“It will be pretty taxing on all of them.

“He will enjoy the trip and hopefully the draw will not be too big of a hurdle.”

LEAP TO FAME

ID25 LADBROKES INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL (GROUP 1 3157m / 19 Jul 2025

Leap To Fame is already considered one of the greatest performers in the history of the sport with 55 victories and more than $4 million in stakes earnings to his name. 

With another $1 million on the line on home soil on Saturday evening, his resume is in the box seat to go to another level once again.

Australia’s premier harness driver James Herbertson will drive Rakero Rebel for trainer Jess Tubbs in Saturday’s showpiece pacing event.

Herbertson partnered with Better Eclipse – also from the Tubbs camp – in last week’s heat at Albion Park.

Rakero Rebel has drawn alongside Leap To Fame in the decider.

The 25-year-old Herbertson is regarded as one of the leading reinsman in the country and he even admits that racing against a standardbred as powerful as Leap To Fame is a privilege.

 

Champion pacer Leap To Fame.

“We are just trying to keep up, I think that is our best go,” the top young driver said.

“He is a real standout and it is an honour to be in a race with him when he is at his peak.

“Down the track, we will be able to say we raced against Leap To Fame.

“Even in the heat the other night, I was happy to just keep up with him down the back straight and I was pretty pleased with that.

“He is a generational horse and we are really, really lucky to be able to race against him in our lifetime.”

Ahead of Saturday’s showpiece race, Dixon, as he does, was not giving away too much when pressed on Leap To Fame’s status this week. 

Champion pacer Leap To Fame.

In a remarkable statistic, the champion pacer has not been beaten on his home track since November of 2023 – winning a staggering 20 races in succession at the venue. 

“Trista and I are happy with him, he seems well and bright,” the champion trainer said.

“We hope for a good week with him and fingers crossed for Saturday night.

“We have been happy with both runs in the heats; he has got through the line good.

“The main thing is that he has pulled up well from the runs.”

 

Thomas and Jai Dixon at the track.

Racing Queensland’s Senior Harness Racing Manager Andrew Clarke has watched Leap To Fame closely in recent years and is blown away by his performances every time he steps on the track. 

Clarke also served as a board member and Deputy Chair at the Albion Park Harness Racing Club from June of 2024 until March of this year before starting his new role with RQ. 

“He is the best horse that I have ever seen,” Clarke said.

“He epitomizes everything a good harness horse does - he can work, he can sprint – he is just a fantastic animal.

“I think he sits above all the other horses that I have ever seen in my over 40 years watching the sport, in my opinion.”

 

Races

8

Albion Park | Albion Park Harness Racing Club | 9:10 pm in 2 days

 

ID25 LADBROKES INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL (GROUP 1

Prize money $1,000,000

 

Acknowledgement

Racing Queensland acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate and conduct our business operations across Queensland. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to Elders, past and present.

 

© Copyright 2025 Racing Queensland 

[Chief Stipe]

All credit to the horse but it takes a sharp trainer to keep him at the top level.  These types of champion horses have all sorts of niggles because they try so hard ALL the time.

What say you @Gammalite ?

[Gammalite]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

All credit to the horse but it takes a sharp trainer to keep him at the top level.  These types of champion horses have all sorts of niggles because they try so hard ALL the time.

What say you @Gammalite ?

Yes I saw the heartbreak with Vinnie in Victoria when Popular Alm broke a bone, and BAG LIMIT and SINBAD BAY were constantly having issues , from over-stretching every thing . ( In between their many Super Big race Wins) 

The Top Level in both countries is through the ceiling good Chief. Esp Allstars (now on the wane) and Barry Purdon with a few stable stars taking over ( with all the hard work by Scott Phelan of course too) 

Allstars had unlucky accidents with Akuta and Millwood Nike to end their careers prematurely. 

and Cullens and Dalgety's are racking up many big race wins too. Very Sharp Trainers. It's a true pleasure to Watch them race.

(just on a side note Chief , a very good friend of mine here in Brissy I used to drive for, has a horse share at Dalgety's. he loves to support NZ like Dean Shannon and that too. Horse named Magician , and should win tomorrow night at Addington too ) .  

Grant Dixon in QLD has Many 'very modest' horses racing too ,  some winning tonight even in slow old times and grades at Redcliffe where he sends the juniors to get a go. and get yet more wins. Something like the Dunns camp and the House camp does so well there. helping some smaller-time owners out which is nice 👍

 

[the galah]

there were  some very competitive races last night,but lets be honest,the 2 interdominion finals were really boring,which was a shame as it would be one of the few times peope outside harness racing would have watched the sport.

the only time they were interesting was the first 250m ,then the races just became little more than uncompetitve workouts,with no one making any attenpt to improve at all.

i felt rather deflated myself as i had expected more.

the times confirmed what we saw, leap to fame went slow until the final 800m which he rthen ran in 53.3

i know other drivers don't want to end up outside leap to fame if he has the speed on all the way,but that never happened and the driving of the other aussie drivers really was quite sub standard.

none of them adjusted their pre race thinking and none drove to the way the race actually evolved. 

also,j herbertson who drew beside leap to fame,was he on the payroll as he restrained from the start and by doing that it was obvious he was going to let g dixon off. and g dixon didn't hesitate in exploiting herbertsons poor tactical move.I mean,if your another driver wouldn't you be hoping and trying to box in leap to fame early when you knew he would most likely be crossed. Obviously not was the answer.

the trotters final pretty much the same,once arcee phenix held the lead,no moves and just a tame race. Bet and win was again driven very well early by b butt credit ot him . Oscar bonevna not driven well at all. A sanderson seems good if in front on a favorite,but not so clever if having to make tactical decisions if coming from the back. stlll he had a good night  when he was gifted the front in his derby win, but he had 2 poor drives after that.

full credit tio g dixon. He simply was much to clever for the rest last night. 

leap to fame didn't have to display his champion qualities last night,but he is possibly the greatest horse in the last 50 years.

Edited 14 hours ago by the galah

[Gammalite]

1 hour ago, the galah said:

there were  some very competitive races last night,but lets be honest,the 2 interdominion finals were really boring,which was a shame as it would be one of the few times peope outside harness racing would have watched the sport.

the only time they were interesting was the first 250m ,then the races just became little more than uncompetitve workouts,with no one making any attenpt to improve at all.

i felt rather deflated myself as i had expected more.

the times confirmed what we saw, leap to fame went slow until the final 800m which he rthen ran in 53.3

i know other drivers don't want to end up outside leap to fame if he has the speed on all the way,but that never happened and the driving of the other aussie drivers really was quite sub standard.

none of them adjusted their pre race thinking and none drove to the way the race actually evolved. 

also,j herbertson who drew beside leap to fame,was he on the payroll as he restrained from the start and by doing that it was obvious he was going to let g dixon off. and g dixon didn't hesitate in exploiting herbertsons poor tactical move.I mean,if your another driver wouldn't you be hoping and trying to box in leap to fame early when you knew he would most likely be crossed. Obviously not was the answer.

the trotters final pretty much the same,once arcee phenix held the lead,no moves and just a tame race. Bet and win was again driven very well early by b butt credit ot him . Oscar bonevna not driven well at all. A sanderson seems good if in front on a favorite,but not so clever if having to make tactical decisions if coming from the back. stlll he had a good night  when he was gifted the front in his derby win, but he had 2 poor drives after that.

full credit tio g dixon. He simply was much to clever for the rest last night. 

leap to fame didn't have to display his champion qualities last night,but he is possibly the greatest horse in the last 50 years.

Well I agree with most of what you say. 

Those races were TOO LONG at the 2 miles . The Aussie horses aren't good at it. never race it. 

Also LEAP TO FAME can come from anywhere, over any distance, doing any work. (Cambridge race prime example) 

and Merlin, and Republican Party, and Don't Stop Dreaming and Chase a Dream Didn't bother even turning up for New Zealand to exploit that fact.  the very horses that could pressure him. Pinseeker ??? nah 🤣

So the race was boring and the 3 horses along the trailing positions behind Leap To Fame picked up tens of thousands of dollars in place money without having to do anything.

In the TROT, Bob Butt did the same. Just dropped in to a trailing position behind Arcee Phoenix instead of taking him on. his horse BET N WIN is a 2 mile winner (Rowe Cup) but took the 'easy way out' and let the Aussie dictate and run away. Maybe needed John Dunn driving it ? he has a real dig in the Big races with trotters.

So the Interdominion racing went Exactly as Most experts predicted.  I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it . I thought Gus could win it , But the poor bugger has to come from the back every time, and bloody London To A Brick just got in the road of him and Oscar B, so they lost their chance in the last lap. Gus and OscarB must of made up near 8 lengths on Bet N Win in the last lap, so still good merit in 3rd and 4th.

Winner was too good drawn the One Alley. the winning trainer driver Chris Svanosio, and his young stable junior Taylor Youl who you wouldn't know, but she is high up on the Victoria driving table with a stack of wins , are TROTTER specialists , racing mainly them like Williamsons do in NZ.   

[Gammalite]

2 hours ago, the galah said:

also,j herbertson who drew beside leap to fame,was he on the payroll as he restrained from the start and by doing that it was obvious he was going to let g dixon off. and g dixon didn't hesitate in exploiting herbertsons poor tactical move.I mean,if your another driver wouldn't you be hoping and trying to box in leap to fame early when you knew he would most likely be crossed. Obviously not was the answer.

Not Herbertson. It is the young driver Jack Chappell on Tims A Trooper who is on the Dixon payroll . so you got that bit wrong. Jack drew second row and could of been used to help Larry get off the inside , but wasn't needed.

Rakero Rebel should of been in the Mares race Group 1 Golden Girl. This race was way out of her depth. You think Herbertson should try and hold Leap to Fame in ? lol 😂 No Point knocking your horse around like that 😅 

saying the New Young Driver Champion of Australasia is poor tactically not great thing to do , but go for your life I spose. there's not much you can do to beat 'Larry the Powerhouse.

[the galah]

43 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

Not Herbertson. It is the young driver Jack Chappell on Tims A Trooper who is on the Dixon payroll . so you got that bit wrong. Jack drew second row and could of been used to help Larry get off the inside , but wasn't needed.

Rakero Rebel should of been in the Mares race Group 1 Golden Girl. This race was way out of her depth. You think Herbertson should try and hold Leap to Fame in ? lol 😂 No Point knocking your horse around like that 😅 

saying the New Young Driver Champion of Australasia is poor tactically not great thing to do , but go for your life I spose. there's not much you can do to beat 'Larry the Powerhouse.

i was being cheeky when i said j herbertson on the payroll.I didn't get it wrong.

Herbertson drive like he was,was my point. He drew alongside leap to fame and restrained his horse at the start. Did he not realise if you want to keep leap to fame on the inside,all he had to do was maintain his position. And that was on a horse that the trackside presenters keep telling us has gate speed. herbertsons drive not very clever on that occassion in my opinion. Just look at what happened to see that.

[Gammalite]

5 hours ago, the galah said:

i was being cheeky when i said j herbertson on the payroll.I didn't get it wrong.

Herbertson drive like he was,was my point. He drew alongside leap to fame and restrained his horse at the start. Did he not realise if you want to keep leap to fame on the inside,all he had to do was maintain his position. And that was on a horse that the trackside presenters keep telling us has gate speed. herbertsons drive not very clever on that occassion in my opinion. Just look at what happened to see that.

oh ok. thought you had him mixed up with young Jack for a minute. lol.

Anyway Grant has barged off the fence in Both the heats of the Interdominon as well as this Grand Final. something that has been seen by LEAP TO FAME a few times. 

I think Grant is getting more 'Leeway' than other drivers get doing this early in the race. Luke McCarthy got KING of SWING off the one draw, in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake run this week 4 years ago,  only to get the chop and Gallop fiercely to the back (courtesy of Anthony Butt)  who got suspended. The horse leaving the fence causes issues. 

Nothing Herbie would do would keep Larry on the the fence??? . He was coming out No matter What Mr Galah. bloody oath you'd be grabbing up if you were Herbertson,  with Larry coming out under your horse lol. Herbie did good to stay in the running line after, rather than get planted 3 deep.  you just can't see it that way.

Funny BOAY story is when Gammalite won at Auckland the horse bulldozed inwards after the start ( the complete opposite of Larry last night ) and Clarke cleaned up John Noble's horse on the second row into a fierce gallop. El Regale. This gained Gammalite the trail behind Poppy (Popular Alm)  and the win at the  Auckland Interdominion. driver got a suspension to spend some time holidaying with the winnings 💰 . John Noble left swearing for a week 😅 

[the galah]

46 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

oh ok. thought you had him mixed up with young Jack for a minute. lol.

Anyway Grant has barged off the fence in Both the heats of the Interdominon as well as this Grand Final. something that has been seen by LEAP TO FAME a few times. 

I think Grant is getting more 'Leeway' than other drivers get doing this early in the race. Luke McCarthy got KING of SWING off the one draw, in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake run this week 4 years ago,  only to get the chop and Gallop fiercely to the back (courtesy of Anthony Butt)  who got suspended. The horse leaving the fence causes issues. 

Nothing Herbie would do would keep Larry on the the fence??? . He was coming out No matter What Mr Galah. bloody oath you'd be grabbing up if you were Herbertson,  with Larry coming out under your horse lol. Herbie did good to stay in the running line after, rather than get planted 3 deep.  you just can't see it that way.

Funny BOAY story is when Gammalite won at Auckland the horse bulldozed inwards after the start ( the complete opposite of Larry last night ) and Clarke cleaned up John Noble's horse on the second row into a fierce gallop. El Regale. This gained Gammalite the trail behind Poppy (Popular Alm)  and the win at the  Auckland Interdominion. driver got a suspension to spend some time holidaying with the winnings 💰 . John Noble left swearing for a week 😅 

now that interdominion final was a real horse race. I think you pulled off the trail a fair way from home from memory.you were swatting flies with the whip non stop from that point.2 great horses and the people involved really different  characters. Trainers/drivers these days don't seem quite as colourful,if thats the right word. 

as to leap to fame,he wouldn't have been able to come off if the horse ourside him was slightly ahead of him.and given leap to fames average gate speed on the night it looked tom me an opportunity lost.

leap to fame and dixon has got those aussie drivers beaten in their heads before they even start.Nz drivers  can be negative sometimes ,but  if you had some nz drivers in those races you would have seen better tactical driving. Where was b orange when we needed him.

Edited 4 hours ago by the galah

[Gammalite]

10 minutes ago, the galah said:

now that interdominion final was a real horse race. I think you pulled off the trail a fair way from home from memory.you were swatting flies with the whip non stop from that point.2 great horses and the people involved really different  characters. Trainers/drivers these days don't seem quite as colourful,if thats the right word. 

as to leap to fame,he wouldn't have been able to come off if the horse ourside him was slightly ahead of him.and given leap to fames average gate speed on the night it looked tom me an opportunity lost.

leap to fame and dixon has got those aussie drivers beaten in their heads before they even start.Nz drivers  can be negative sometimes ,but  if you had some nz drivers in those races you would have seen better tactical driving. Where was b orange when we needed him.

Vinnie was fabulous . He drove like a maniac. was eternally happy with his horses ( but not with women sadly) and should of won that Auckland race. Poppy Shot 4 lengths clear 400m out and spent all his pennies.  Had the race well won if he didn't think he could just win it by 6 lengths lol. he was pretty cranky about that Gammalite win. 

Leap To Fame and Lazarus race similar ? just too strong. You would of seen Lazarus gate speed. Was just normal ? but just sit outside them and win anyway. Dixon has well over 5000 race wins and no every inch of Albion , and driving the best horse in the world. No way could little Rakero Rebel hold him in with a 25 year old driver not as familiar with his horse and the track. poor bugger got left parked out for the trip too. she wasn't a hope anyway.

What the race needed was some TEAM driving. Sanderson needed to attack before they were a lap out with Sure Thing Captain , and give the Stablemate Speak The Truth the last shot from the trail. A Small problem is that Larry is Full bore at the half mile every race anyway. and no-one can get near him from the front let alone the back of field 😂🤣

Larry Ran 26.5 both the last 2 quarters for a 53 second last half mile.  you can't even win from the trailing position with leader going that fast. 😅   NZ Cup looks to be Aussie bound again .