Grant Dixon wants Fate Awaits judged on his own merits.
But when you’re an exciting young stablemate of Leap To Fame and winning Group 1 races, it’s hard for people not to make comparisons.
“To be fair, he had a fantastic start (to his career) and did more as a two-year-old than any other baby we’ve had,” Dixon said.
“But there’s only one Leap To Fame and as nice a horse as this fella is, we’ve waited 50 years as a family to get Leap To Fame and it’s hard to imagine we’ll ever get another one like him.”
Fate Awaits won four of his first six starts, including the Group 1 Protostar.
He’s since added another two Group 1 wins in the NSW Breeders Challenge final and his most significant win when he upstaged four-year-olds in the Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 5.
“He’s a good little horse who has had his share of luck with draws and getting the right runs in a few big races, and he’s been good enough to make the most of it,” Dixon said.
“He’s also racing in a very strong crop of three-year-olds where the draws are just so important.
“Take the Victoria Derby for example last start. He only ran fifth, but I thought the run was terrific given he covered ground and it was such a peg-dominated race. He hit the line well.”
The run was enough to book Fate Awaits’ spot on the plane with Leap To Fame across to Christchurch, via Auckland, on Monday night.
While Leap To Fame is chasing the $NZ1mil NZ Cup on November 11, Fate Awaits’ target is the $NZ500,000 The Velocity three days later.
“All going well, he’ll stay for the NZ Derby the week after (November 21), as well,” Dixon said.
Fate Awaits will cap his preparation when he takes on older rivals from a tricky draw in the second race at Melton on Saturday night.
His rivals include former Victoria Derby winner Petracca, who returned from 14 months on the sidelines with a dazzling Melton win on October 11.
“I just thought he needed another run and then it’ll be 13 days until he runs in NZ,” Dixon said.
“It’s not an ideal race because under the national ratings system he’s not well placed, so it’ll be hard enough for him, especially from the outside (draw, gate seven).
“But it’s more about getting another run into him rather than having a month between runs or just trialling him before the NZ race.”
Dixon said Leap To Fame had thrived since his return to winning form at Melton last Saturday night.
“He seems great. We did another blood (test) this week just to be sure,” he said.
“He certainly felt and raced a lot more like himself last week and it’s all systems go for NZ at this stage.”
For all of Leap To Fame’s achievements, including two Inter Dominions, a Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup and Race by betcha at Cambridge, beating the Kiwis in their backyard in such an iconic race as the NZ Cup would top them all.
“It’s always been one of those races you’d love to win as a trainer or driver and to be having a crack at it with the best horse we’ve ever had is exciting,” Dixon said.
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
