Top pacers and trotters begin final tune-ups

By Darren Clayton

This Saturday will mark 35 days until the opening round heats of the 2026 Inter Dominion.

With just five metropolitan meetings remaining until the series begins, some of the top-ranked pacers and trotters are fine-tuning their preparations.

PACERS

Trials do not come any more impressive than what Leap To Fame delivered at Albion Park on Tuesday afternoon.

The trial had just two other rivals, Wisper A Secret (who is 20th in the Inter Dominion rankings) and Big Shadow (56).

The defending champion was sent forward by Grant Dixon and dictated from the front in the trial. 

Although better suited over a longer trip, it was an ominous warning for Leap To Fame’s opposition. He produced a 1.49.8 mile, highlighted by a 53.2 second closing 800 metres.

Better Eclipse was the runner-up in the 2023 ID Final behind Leap To Fame when prepared by Jess Tubbs. Better Eclipse is currently ranked 18 for the 2026 championship.

Following a stint in Western Australia with Gary Hall Jnr, Better Eclipse made his first public appearance in a Menangle trial on Wednesday for new trainer Luke McCarthy.

The eight-year-old was strong through the line from a three-back position and chased home The Rising Sun hopeful Double Lou, with the final quarter posted in 26.2 seconds.

Another hopeful that was set to trial was the Chantal Turpin-prepared The Janitor. The Janitor is currently ranked seventh.

A scratching from Tuesday’s trial session, the five-year-old will start in this Saturday night’s Avonnova Open at Albion Park.

With two wins from four starts this season, it will be the first start on his home track in 2026, as Gus has started twice each at Menangle and Cambridge.

Tims A Trooper (16) will start from barrier one as he attempts to upset The Janitor.

Filling the role as the second-string performer behind Leap To Fame throughout his career, the seven-year-old has started over 50 times since he last wore the number one saddlecloth.

Last year’s Eureka champion Bay Of Biscay (12) has started his five-year-old season without a win in three appearances.

The Emma Stewart-trained stallion will contest the Maryborough Pacing Cup this Sunday from barrier 10, with James Herbertson booked for the drive.

War Dan Buddy, who is ranked 15, will also line up at Maryborough and has the advantage over his stablemate after landing barrier one.

TROTTERS

The Locomotive, regarded as one of the more prominent horses, is set to miss the series.

The Locomotive was the ID champion back in 2024. 

Trainer Brad Hewitt signalled the stallion has undergone surgery on a complaint that has hampered the star since returning from Sweden last year.

Gus, the highest-ranked Queensland hope at two, was set to trial at Albion Park on Thursday afternoon.

Wet weather in Brisbane has forced a change in plans for the Group 1-winning star of the Turpin stable. It has delayed a start to his Inter Dominion preparations.

On Saturday night at Melton, four of the top 20-ranked trotters will do battle as Im Bobby (six), Remus Phoenix (seven), Lovemeto (17) and Aldebaran Acrux (18) all contest the same race.

Lovemeto jumped three places when the second-round rankings were released and is set to start favourite in Saturday’s contest.

At Albion Park this Saturday, Aldebaranstilinski (24) will start favourite in a mobile mile event from barrier two for Mitchell and Nathan Dawson. Aldebaranstilinski broke the track record at Albion Park in his last start. 

All bar one runner in the field of seven are nominated for 'ID26', with Ikigai (45) looking for another strong showing to gain a much-needed boost in the rankings.

Meanwhile, the Emma Stewart-trained Susan Is Her Name is one of the biggest queries in the series.

Currently ranked ninth, the extremely talented mare is the only horse to defeat Keayang Zahara. Susan Is Her Name has not raced since that Group 1 victory over 12 months ago.

In full work and yet to have a race campaign mapped out, the mare produced an effortless trial victory in a 1.56.2 rate on April 28 at Melton.