Dixons Riding Wave of Success

Grant Dixon is riding the crest of a wave, powered by his stable star Leap To Fame.

While Larry is the flag bearer for the stable, the Hall of Fame pacer is just one of a litany of stars that Grant and wife Trista have produced across the past 18 months.

Recognising the performance that the stable achieved in 2024, on Saturday night Dixon was presented with the JD Watts award as the leading trainer in Australia.

It was a timely presentation, with the JD Watts Free For All held later in the night at Menangle, while for Dixon, his stable star returned from a short break as he builds towards the Inter Dominion.

It was a winning return for Leap To Fame, although the half-neck margin was indicative of the fight that Wisper A Secret presented, with the pair going stride-for-stride down the home straight.

LEAP TO FAME May 31

2023 finished in glory for the Dixon’s, claiming a hometown Inter Dominion and that success intensified through 2024, Dixon training 213 winners for the term, the only trainer in the country to exceed a double century.

For Leap To Fame, 2024 was a year of contrasts, starting the year with victory in the Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile, the first two grand circuit events of the year, before a tilt at the New Zealand Cup was derailed by minor issues.

“We obviously got towards the end of 2024 when he got crook and we had to shut him down then, but it was just amazing what he managed to achieve throughout the year,” Dixon said earlier this year.

“He deserved so many of the awards that he received, and it’s just been such a thrill to be associated with him.”

Not only were the numbers large across the year, but the quality of the winners is also reflected with the stake earnings the highest ever recorded in a single season for Dixon.

The wins included the Hunter Cup, Miracle Mile and Blacks A Fake with Leap To Fame, The Protostar and NSW Breeders Challenge (Fate Awaits), 2YO Fillies Triad and Sunshine Stars Classic (Cool And Classy), 2YO Colts & Geldings Triad (Fire Raiser)

FATE AWAITS

The strength of the season saw five national titles awarded to horses trained from the Dixon’s Tamborine stables, Leap To Fame securing three of those.

• 2YO Colt or Gelding – Fate Awaits
• 2YO Filly – Cool And Classy
• Aged Pacer – Leap To Fame
• Pacer of the Year – Leap To Fame
• Horse of the Year – Leap To Fame

Complementing the Australian Horse of the year title, Leap To Fame was again crowned Grand Circuit Champion, despite missing the final two legs of the seven-race series.

Recognising the feats of not only a huge 2024 season, but Grant’s overall contribution to the sport, at the 2024 Racing Queensland harness awards in February, both Leap To Fame and Grant were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“I probably feel a bit too young to be in the Hall of Fame to tell you the truth but it’s a big thrill,” Dixon said.

“It’s my name there but it’s just as much Trista’s effort as it is mine.

“With Trista it’s been amazing the run we’ve managed to do and a lot of that’s down to how hard Trista works and how much she cares for the horses.”

While 2024 was exceptional, 2025 could eclipse those numbers at the current pace.

Already at 123 winners after just five months, the stable is achieving a career-high 17% strike rate, and the production line of talented horses continues.

Fight For Victory was successful on Saturday night in the two-year-old QBRED Breeders Classic for colts and geldings, landing an impressive victory, while stablemate Fire And Passion also looks to have a bright future.

Considering four of the top 10 of the all-time stake earners prepared by Dixon are still currently active in the barn, the wave of success looks to be intensifying.

COOL AND CLASSY