From HarnessLink (Tony Milanese, 19July 2026)
Australia’s leading harness racing mare Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) defeated Leap To Fame in what turned out to be one of the most exciting editions of the $1 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Inter Dominion Pacers Final at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Before the race the draw gave Captains Mistress an advantage as Leap To Fame was drawn on the second line.
As expected Captains Mistress took over from the leader Cheerstolou while Leap To Fame was wide early. Eventually with the pace still hot, Grant Dixon on Leap To Fame had no option but to go around to race outside Captains Mistress but in the process he had done a heap of work.
Dangerous had the one out and one back trail but Cameron Hart on Captains Mistress had a plan to keep the field running. And it was obvious going into the back straight that it would be a two horse race as both Captains Mistress and Leap To Fame drew clear of the field as the large crowd was on their toes roaring their support Captains Mistress still had a three metre advantage on the final bend and Leap To Fame looked spent. But showing every bit of his championship qualities Leap To Fame slowly but surely started to gather in Captains Mistress but at the post she had 1.2 metres to spare over Leap To Fame with Nyack some 14 metres away in third.
The mile rate of 1.51.8 took a full second off Don Hugo’s previous record.
Captains Mistress is raced by one of the nation’s most prolific owners Mick Boots who has invested a huge amount in the sport so his success is richly deserved.
For trainer Jason Grimson this was his third Inter Dominion success having previously won with I Cast No Shadow and Boncel Benjamin.
A delighted Cameron Hart indicated after the event
It means a lot. And thanks to everyone for coming out.
It’s such a great atmosphere here tonight. To watch two great horses go at it. Hopefully everyone’s pretty pleased with the way it all went down.
And yes, just a great fight to the end.
Luke and I just began so quick and I always thought if Luke really wanted to spear out. I was happy to let him keep spearing and obviously knew that the front was going to be there off that horse. I was able to probably get to the first bend and control it a little bit for a couple of hundred metres.
I was just trying to keep the battery as full as I could for when the champ come around. So yeah, we kept an honest pace the whole way, obviously. But yes, there was a couple of little points there where I thought I could just get a breather for a couple of hundred. And yes, obviously when Larry did all that work on the outside, it gave us a great chance to beat him.
She was really comfortable the whole way. And I thought I put a fair bit of work into him when he was out that wide.
And yeah, I felt confident the whole way down the back. I just got really worried when he found my back on the home corner. And I just opened her up and hoped that she obviously moved terrific again.
But it’s pretty hard to shake him.
she normally shakes them, but obviously he’s pretty hard to shake. But I always knew I had him off the bit just as much as myself because he wasn’t running over me. But I always knew he was going to be strong that last hundred. And I kept telling everyone that she was a bulldog in a fight. And she definitely showed Swayzee qualities that last hundred.She never gave up.
She’s got a champion’s mentality. That’s for sure. She just does not want to get beat and yeah, that’s the great thing about this race. We had two champions that didn’t want to get beat, go right down the line. I hope everyone in the crowd appreciated that.
Hart added
She’s such a beautiful mare to drive. She’s so relaxed. Swayzee was more dour but she’s just brilliant.
Owner Mick Boots will now consult with trainer Jason Grimson on her racing future but his one overriding concern is for mare’s welfare.
Naturally I want to breed with her but its all about making sure that what is decided is in her interests.
