Leap To Fame Faces His Biggest Challenge

PACING sensation Leap To Fame faces his biggest challenge yet when he surprisingly backs-up in Saturday night’s $200,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Plans had been to skip this week and go straight to the $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake a week later, but the powerhouse pacer thrilled trainer-driver Grant Dixon with his recovery from a blistering win in the Group 1 Rising Sun last Saturday night.

“We left it up to Grant and he said the horse pulled-up really, looked a picture and had taken no harm from last week’s run,” owner Kevin Seymour said.

This will be Leap To Fame’s first genuine test against open-class older rivals, including reigning Inter Dominion winner I Cast No Shadow, dual Miracle Mile runner-up Spirit Of St Louis, $1mil Nullarbor winner Betterzippit and WA’s best pacer Magnificent Storm.

And Leap To Fame, as he did last week, will have to overcome a wide draw from six of seven on the front row.

“It’s always nerve-wracking going into big races with a horse like him, especially from a wide draw,” Seymour said.

“The draw certainly isn’t favourable. Up to date he hasn’t had the best of luck with draws, but if he overcomes six this week then I guess it will show he’s well above average.”

The wide draw didn’t perturb punters who quickly snapped-up Leap To Fame’s opening odds of $2.40. He’s now into $1.90.

Race caller Chris Barsby and international harness expert Greg Gangle were among those to declare Leap To Fame the best pacer in the world after his mind-blowing win last week. He equalled the track record, won without being extended by 12m and blazed an almost unthinkable 1min49.5sec last mile.’

On those times alone, Albion Park’s 1min49.2sec track record for 1660m is in serious danger in the Sunshine Sprint.

The always aggressive and hugely successful NSW trainer Jason Grimson looks Leap To Fame’s biggest threat with his two runners – Betterzippit (gate one) and I Cast No Shadow (two) – drawing well and boasting good early speed.

Betterzippit is nearing his best again after three runs from a spell and will take a power of beating if he holds the front from the pole.

Albion Park 1660m track record holder Blacksadance also boasts loads of early speed and has gate three.

WA’s best pacer Magnificent Storm burned early at his first Albion Park run and weakened last week, but will be better for the run and has barrier four.

High-class Victorian raider Mach Dan is right in the mix from inside the back row (gate eight), especially if Betterzippit leads and he trails him.

While Spirit Of St Louis is the most experienced and successful open-class performer in the race, but will need the pace to be frantic to overcome a wide back row draw (gate 10).

In other news, Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave sparkled winning his first trial after a spell at Melton today.

Andy Gath’s stable star came from last in the four-horse trial to win and was clocked to run his own closing splits in 54.3 and 26.2sec without being extended by driver Kate Gath.

Gath confirmed he would now look for the first-up race for the four-year-old as he prepares for a clash with Leap To Fame, Captain Ravishing and others in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

* Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.