Photo by Stuart McCormick
YOUNG gun driver Cam Hart knows how to beat Leap To Fame and has a plan to do it again in Saturday night’s Group 1 Hunter Cup.
Hart drives Swayzee, the older half-brother to Leap To Fame, who famously beat him when they first clashed in a epic contest in the 2023 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.
Leap To Fame holds a 3-1 advantage over Swayzee after winning their past three clashes, but Hart believes the barrier draw and gruelling 2760m trip give him a chance to “get one back” in Victoria’s biggest race at Melton on Saturday night.
Leap To Fame has drawn the worst possible alley (inside back row, gate eight), while Swayzee is out wider on the back row (gate 11).
“I was certainly happy to see Leap To Fame draw where he did,” Hart said. “And I don’t mind where we’re drawn, I think we can follow through quite well from there.
“They key is it, the draw gives every chance of settling in front of Leap To Fame and we'll get a chance to dictate it, rather than him.
“The only real time we’ve had to do that was back when we beat him the first time. We did get in front of him one other night at Albion Park, but Swayzee wasn’t quite himself that night.
“To beat him this week, I have to use that first Blacks A Fake as the model. Not only do I have to settle in front of him, but I have to put as much space as possible between him and I in the middle stages.
“Then hope I can work around and get the front, while he’s well back in the field and turn it into a real staying test.
“If Grant (Dixon, Leap To Fame’s driver) gets him up alongside you and gets him on the bit (travelling well), you just can’t beat him, so I have to hope I’m in a position to really make him chase hard to get within striking distance.”
Hart has driven Swayzee exactly the same way to do what no other Aussie pacer has done, win the past two iconic NZ Cups at Addington.
“He’s a great stayer, my guy. Leap To Fame has too much speed for us, but I think we can go with him in an out-and-out staying contest,” Hart said.
But Hart admits this is not just a two-horse race.
“There’s so much depth,” he said. “It’s as strong an open-class race as I’ve seen for many years. You’ve got the Kiwis (Republican Party, Tact McLeod and Dont Stop Dreaming) here and Don Hugo is on the up. Then you’ve got horses like Captains Knock and Max Delight who are flying, but not even being mentioned.
“That’s the extra layer for me. Not only do I have to drive to beat Leap To Fame, but I’ve also got to hope a real staying test will take the gas out of horses like Republican Party and Tact McLeod, who are drawn to get good runs too.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s got all the makings of a great race and of being a test of horses and their drivers.”
Hart’s only previous drive on Swayzee at Melton saw them combine for a powerhouse win in the Group 1 Victoria Cup last October.
“He was awesome that night, but this is a much stronger race. Against that, it’s 2760m compared to 2240m in the Victoria Cup and that really helps our cause,” he said.
Hart is also excited about reuniting with Bay Of Biscay in Saturday night’s 4YO Bonanza. He partnered Emma Stewart’s young star to a huge second in the TAB Eureka last September.
“He’s a lovely horse and by all reports has come back really well after a break,” he said.
