Leap To Fame Headlines Stellar Cup Field

Leap To Fame. Photo by Dan Costello.

ALL the big guns are there.

After days of speculation and uncertainty, one of the best Victoria Cup fields in recent memory has been assembled for Melton on Saturday night.

Queensland sensation Leap To Fame has pleased connections since returning from a freshen-up with an Albion Park win last Saturday night and will take his spot.

And buzz NSW pacer Hi Manameisjeff, who has looked terrific winning all four starts since joining Jason Grimson’s stable, also snared a start in the elite 12-horse field.

Champion trainer Emma Stewart has a remarkable five runners: Act Now, Amore Vita, Encipher, Honolua Bay and Mach Dan.

Two of those – Amore Vita and Encipher are trying to become the first mare to beat the boys in the history of the Group 1 Victoria Cup.

Encipher will go into the Cup having not raced since winning the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 2.

Stewart also ended a week of speculation by accepting Hunter Cup winner Honolua Bay. It will be his first run for more than seven months, having not raced since finishing third in the Miracle Mile at Menangle on March 4.

Exciting pacer Captain Ravishing is another interesting runner and will be driven in a race for the first time by Nathan Jack.

Defending champion Rock N Roll Doo is primed after four runs back from a spell, according to trainer-driver Mick Stanley.

The hard luck story was last Saturday night’s Group 3 Smoken Up Sprint winner Bulletproof Boy, who didn’t impress selectors enough to get a start. Scott Ewen’s nine-year-old is the lone emergency.

The Victoria Cup barrier draw, along with the Derby and Oaks finals, will be live on Sky Racing 1 at 9am tomorrow (Tuesday).

VICTORIA CUP FIELD (not in barrier order): Act Now, Amore Vita, Better Eclipse, Captain Ravishing, Catch A Wave, Encipher, Hi Manameisjeff, Honolua Bay, Leap To Fame, Mach Dan, Rock N Roll Doo, Spirit Of St Louis, Bulletproof Boy (emerg).