CHAMPION pacer Leap To Fame snared the first guaranteed spot in the $1 million Miracle Mile with yet another record-smashing win.
The Queensland superstar broke the clock with a 1min49sec win in last night’s Group 2 Newcastle Mile, taking a staggering 1.6sec off the previous track record.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon said the most pleasing part was how well Leap To Fame finished off the race despite working so hard and running such a quick time.
“Yes, he ran through the line really well and you’ve got to love that,” he said.
Dixon was immediately back on the road to get Leap To Fame home to his base at Tambourine outside of Brisbane to freshen-up before a road trip back to Menangle for the Miracle Mile on March 8.
“He thrives at home and it’s great we can bring him back here between races,” he said.
Leap To Fame followed the same path last year – Hunter Cup, Cranbourne Cup and Newcastle Mile – before his historic Miracle Mile win last year.
He became the first horse to win Australasia’s premier speed test from a barrier wider than six. He started from seven.
“I think it was the best moment of last year with him, to do what no other horse had done in one of the greatest races and with lots of Trista’s (Dixon’s wife) family and friends trackside,” he said.
Most think this year’s Miracle Mile will be a stronger field than last year.
“I’ll wait and see the two qualifying sprints (next Saturday at Menangle) before I think about that,” Dixon said.
“I’m sure Leap To Fame is at least as good as last year and that’s all we can ask.”
The Miracle Mile is restricted to just eight runners and the remainder of the field will be decided after the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire and two other qualifying sprints at Menangle next Saturday night.
Other key contenders include Kiwi trio Dont Stop Dreaming, Its Merlin and Tact McLeod, Hunter Cup hero Swayzee, Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo, in-form pair Captains Knock and Max Delight and former Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave.
Leap To Fame is a commanding $1.70 favourite to successfully defend his Miracle Mile crown.
Beyond that, he will head across to New Zealand for the first time for the $NZ1mil Race By Betcha at Cambridge on April 4.
“We’ll stay in Sydney after the Miracle Mile and go across to NZ early for a lead-up race at Cambridge (March 28),” owner Kevin Seymour said.
“Cambridge is a bit of a tricky track, so we’re keen to give him a look around it before the big one,
“Plus, he thrives on racing and having a good hit out the week before the big one will suit him.”
