A track record performance from Leap To Fame just moments ago sent a resounding reminder as to which pacer is the southern hemisphere’s premier standardbred.
With a some doubters beginning to emerge following defeats behind ‘new kid on the block’ – Kingman – and his stablemate, Don Hugo, during the past three months, Leap To Fame made it clear he isn’t ready to relinquish the title with a scintillating Ballarat Cup triumph.
Working to the lead from barrier seven, Leap To Fame was allowed to stroll along at a solid tempo by trainer-driver Grant Dixon, as Kingman worked on his outside.
Bursting clear of the field turning for home, the son of Bettors Delight was untouched to score by 11-and-a-half metres from Dee Roe.
Forty Love, an Aaron Dunn-trained stablemate of the runner-up, was a metre away third.
Taking his tally to an incredible 62 wins and 16 placings from 80 starts, Leap To Fame rated 1:54.4 over 2710 metres, slicing four-tenths of a second from Smolda’s track record established in the 2017 Cup.
“The draw was always going to be a bit difficult, but my main aim was to stay in front of Kingman,” Dixon said. “He felt terrific all the way and did it quite well within himself up the straight.”
Thanks to his victory – which stretched his bankroll to $5,083,859 – Leap To Fame has become the third pacer eligible for Harness Racing Victoria’s $1million bonus.
In what can only be described as a phenomenal promotion, HRV will pay the mouth-watering sum to any pacer which captures four of the six specified Cups.
One of those wins has to be in the Hunter Cup in Melton on February 14.
Evergreen veteran Bulletproof Boy became the first eligible after securing the Bendigo Cup a fortnight ago, followed by Kingman which won last weekend’s Shepparton Cup.
The circuit moves to Cranbourne next Saturday night, with Dixon confirming Leap To Fame will aim for a record third consecutive win in the Group One.
“The $1million bonus dream is still alive, so we’ll keep chasing it,” Dixon said. “It’s going to be super hard to do, but if you don’t have a go, you’ll never know!”
