Photo by Stu McCormick
CHAMPION pacer Leap To Fame is primed to become first horse in 30 years to go back-to-back in Australia’s greatest staying race, the Group 1 Hunter Cup.
Not since mighty Kiwi mare Blossom Lady in 1994 and’95 has a pacer been able to win Victoria’s marquee race in successive years.
Since then, only King Of Swing has been able to win two Hunter Cups, King Of Swing in 2020 and ’22. He also ran third in 2021.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon admitted he was glad he changed plans and raced Leap To Fame at Melton last Saturday night.
“Originally, we weren’t going to because he won so well first-up (at Albion Park) last week, but then Trista (Dixon’s wife) and I thought he’d only had one run and we were going into a real staying test.
“I’m glad we did because he was a bit casual in front until I pulled his plugs out and got him back up on the bit, but he felt good on the line.
“The other horse got close to me on the line, but he wasn’t going to let him past.
“I think that run will do him good again for next week because he’s got to go to the 2800m. I think that run will sharpen him up a bit more.”
Leap To Fame clocked a slick 1min52.6sec mile rate and zipped home in 53.4 and 26sec flat, but only had 1.5m to spare over emerging Kiwi pacer Tact McLeod, who led and then trailed the winner.
Another high-class Kiwi, Republican Party, made a midrace move to sit outside Leap To Fame and fought on well to finish third.
But Leap To Fame’s biggest Hunter Cup challenge looks set to come from his own family.
Half-brother Swayzee, who famously upset Leap To Fame in the 2023 Group 1 Blacks A Fake, is expected to be a surprise starter when the field is finalised.
Leap To Fame has beaten Swayzee in three of their four clashes, but Swayzee is a mighty stayer, as evidenced by being only the Aussie to have beaten the Kiwis twice in their biggest race, the NZ Cup.
Also adding spice to the strongest Hunter Cup field for a decade will be NSW pair Don Hugo and Max Delight, who ran first and third respectively in last month’s Inter Dominion final at Menangle.
Both returned for their first runs since, when Max Delight turned the tables on Don Hugo, who ran third in a 2300m free-for-all at Menangle last night.
Top Victorian driver Greg Sugars has landed the pick-up drive on remarkable veteran Max Delight, a nine-year-old, who will contest his third Hunter Cup. He ran third to Leap To Fame last year.
The Hunter Cup barrier draw will be live on Sky Racing 1 (Foxtel 526) at 9am Tuesday.
