Leap To Fame - 2024 Blakes A Fake Win Photo by Dan Costello
LEAP To Fame's Inter Dominion defence is hanging by a thread.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon said the champion pacer's latest health setback made the upcoming NSW Inter Dominion "very unlikely."
Leap To Fame was scratched from Tuesday's NZ Cup last Friday and has since returned to Dixon's Queensland base.
"We'll know more Tuesday," Dixon said. "His regular vet will go right over him in the hope we can pinpoint what's causing his bloods to be out."
"The frustrating part is that he seems great in all other aspects, but there's something there, something which seems to flare when we race him or work him hard."
"We won't be making any definite decisions until after Tuesday, but I'd say the Inter Dominion has to be very unlikely."
Leap To Fame has enjoyed a stellar and trouble-free career until recent weeks.
He was scratched from the Victoria Cup on the eve of the Group 1 race when a $1.20 favourite owing to a virus.
Just when Dixon thought he had Leap To Fame right again, a blood test taken last Thursday came back showing issues again.
"It might just be best to give him a break now and look to bring him back with the Hunter Cup the first big focus," Dixon said.
"All the matters for now is just getting to the bottom of this and having him fully over it.
"The (NSW) Inter Dominion is very close, and it needs a road trip back from here (Queensland) to Sydney, trips to Bathurst and Newcastle and those four runs in two weeks.
"It doesn't seem ideal, especially when there is another Inter Dominion scheduled for his own backyard (Albion Park) next July."
Leap To Fame brilliantly dominated last December's Brisbane Inter Dominion with a clean sweep through the heats and final.
