More than 150 of Australasia’s best standardbreds are in the hunt for the prestigious Ladbrokes Inter Dominion Championship.
One of the world’s premier harness racing events will call Queensland home again in 2025, headlined by arguably the greatest pacer on the planet, Leap To Fame, chasing his second Inter Dominion title in his home state.
The 11-time Group winner is one of 90 pacers nominated for the series, which also includes reigning Inter Dominion champion and recent Mirale Mile winner Don Hugo.
A number of the nation’s most consistent pacers including Captain Ravishing, Catch A Wave and Minstrel also feature in the nominations.
Republican Party is one of three New Zealand-trained pacers who are nominated for the series.
Meanwhile, there were 61 nominations received for the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship, headlined by the undefeated five-time Group 1 champion Keayang Zahara.
Two-time Maori Mile winner Arcee Phoenix will be joined by both Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena – two of the six trotters who look set to make the trip from across the ditch.
Weekly rankings will be released each Wednesday from May 7 to June 25 which will ultimately determine the composition of the heats for the series, before final acceptances take place on June 30.
The Inter Dominion will take its place as the Queensland Constellations’ crowning jewel, with the Pacing Championship doubling in prize money, with more than $1.2 million on offer – including a $1 million Final.
The Trotters Championship will also receive a significant uplift, with $500,000 on offer in the Final.
The first of two heat rounds of heats will take place on July 5 in line with the Group 1 The Rising Sun, with the second set of qualifiers on July 12 – the same night as the Ladbrokes Protostar.
It means the final night of the Constellations on Saturday, July 19 will offer more than $2 million in stakes and five unforgettable Group 1 races, with the Inter Dominion Finals to be joined by the Queensland Derby, Queensland Oaks and The Golden Girl.
In another first, should a four-year-old win The Rising Sun, they will be offered a golden ticket into the Pacing Championship Final.
Click here to see the full list of nominations.
