Ready to fight on

What will be the race that immediately springs to mind when thinking of Fight For Victory?

Precocious talent Fight For Victory scored a dominant victory in the Changeover Classic at Albion Park before unleashing a head spinning performance in the Breeders Classic Final a month later.

The QBRED Breeders Classic for two-year-old pacers is a time-honored feature steeped in history.

Some of the biggest names in Queensland harness history have launched their careers via this series, which also doubles as a springboard for the Triad.

First staged back in 1976, previous winners include the likes of Wondais Mate, Kentucky Bye Bye, Viking Reign, Terry Butler, Sir Galvinator and Sparkling Melody.

In more recent times, winners include Forever Gold, Tip Your Hat, Catcha Lefty, Big Wheels and Cool And Classy among others.

The Group 3 juvenile feature was staged at the now defunct Parklands track on the Gold Coast between 1991 to 2013 before relocating back to Albion Park.

Over the years some exceptional performances have been witnessed, however, the winning effort of Fight For Victory on May 31 was a sight to behold.

Facing the starter for just the fourth time, the Grant Dixon-prepared, and Trista Dixon-driven colt overcame an extreme draw - the outside of the second line - over the 1660m distance before producing a paralysing sprint to score by a widening margin of 11.6m.

The winning time was a race record 1:53.5 – easily eclipsing the previous mark set by the now North American-based Dangerzone at 1:54.8. Sectionals of 27.3, 28.9, 28.5 and 28.8 seconds - and the track was rain-affected!

Race favourite Fire And Passion finished fourth and tasted defeat for the first time in his career.

Raced by breeders Kevin and Kay Seymour, Fight For Victory aka Freddo, was born and reared at Egmont Park under the watchful eye of Peter and Leanne Bell before being switched across to Tobi Raeth for breaking and early education.

Possessing a blue-chip pedigree, Fight For Victory is the first foal from former star race mare Fame Assured (24 wins, $318,000) and a son of champion sire Bettors Delight.

Like Fight For Victory, Fame Assured was also prepared by Grant and Trista Dixon. Her biggest triumph on the track came via the Group 2 $50,000 Forever Gold Mares Open at her final start.

As a younger horse, Fame Assured was placed in the Group 1 QBRED Triad 2YO Final, the Queensland Derby and Redcliffe Oaks while also claiming the Group 3 4YO Championship, heat of NSW Oaks and Group 3 Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes. 

“Fame Assured was a beautiful mare, such a pleasure to have around the stables and it looks like this fella has inherited his mum’s ability,” Grant Dixon said.

“Tobi does a really good job with all the breaking and early educational work. He normally likes to have them for at least three preparations, sometime four, but the early reports on Freddo were positive.” 

Since being based in the Dixon system at their Tamborine property, Fight For Victory was treated like all the rest of the horses, although he quickly gained a reputation of being playfully cheeky.

“He’s a cheeky little bugger at times and likes to bounce around but he’s a sweet colt, he gets that from his mum. On the track, he loves to look around and stargazes, so we’ve made some adjustments to sort that out,” Dixon said.

“We’re open minded with all the youngsters coming through. No real pressure is applied and their first trip away for the mobile green educational is always a strong indicator on where they sit in the pecking order.

“Maybe this guy was a little different, given his pedigree, I’d like to say I wasn’t biased but it’s hard to forget who his mother and father are, so the expectations were always a little higher than most.”

Fight For Victory became the second QBRED Breeders Classic 2YO Colts and Geldings winner following the victory of Hezarealgem back in 2013.

Given the unbelievable star power produced from the Dixon barn in recent years with colts like Leap To Fame, Tims A Trooper, Colt Thirty One, Air Express, Fate Awaits and Path To Greatness, the obvious question sitting on most lips is – How far can he go?

Time will tell.

And while it’s obvious the current crop of colts looks infinitely stronger compared to the fillies, that’s not to say the fillies are vastly inferior.

In the QBRED Breeders Classic Fillies Final staged on the same night, the racy filly Beachbabe Crocker found the perfect to way to break maiden ranks.

Starting from gate two, Beachbabe Crocker went forward and landed leaders back after stablemate Stripes blasted across from the outside draw (gate 7) to lead the 1660m feature.

With a genuine tempo set, Stripes had many off the bit and field began to spread out and, in the home straight, Beachbabe Crocker (Angus Garrard) tipped to the outside and overpowered Stripes to win by neck margin while Ourbeachgirlmaywyn filled third place. The winning time was 1:55.6.

Only Cool And Classy (1:55.5) 12 months earlier has rated a quicker time winning the QBRED Breeders Classic. It was her eighth race start.

Race favourite and stablemate Wontyoustaywithme finished fifth after starting from the second line.

Raced by breeder Gary Crocker (Walk Proud Pty Ltd), the filly is prepared by Chantal Turpin at her Patrick Estate property.

Beachbabe Crocker is by the ill-fated Somebeachsomewhere from the Art Major mare Samara Crocker, and is a full-sister to millionaire performer Major Crocker (73 wins, $1.275 million).

And Beachbabe Crocker is the second foal to race from Samara Crocker, her first foal is Samnate (six-start maiden to date), an $82,500 purchase from the Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast back in 2023.

Beachbabe Crocker aka CeCe (named after Cocomelon Television kids show) was born and reared at Somerset Farm, but did not enter a public Yearling Sale like her older half-brother.

Sent to Dan Russell for breaking and early education, the filly was a natural and soon joined the Turpin/McMullen racing team.

“Cece has been excellent from day one. Dan said she paced straight away and since being with us, she’s been so easy to train and deal with, our daughters Rylee and Olivia like spoiling her and giving her pats and brushes,” Turpin outlined.

“We got good vibes early on but being a Somebeachsomewhere, we’re mindful she might get a little hot. We trained her relation, Adam Crocker, and he was quite a revvy type. If anything, she can get a little keen behind the start car

Beachbabe Crocker becomes the second QBRED Breeders Classic 2yo Fillies winner prepared by Turpin following the success of Amaya Becomes back in 2019.

Will Beachbabe Crocker become the dominant 2YO pacing filly of her crop?

Time will tell.