Leap To Fame showcased all the attributes of the champion he is to complete a memorable Cranbourne Cup three-peat on Saturday night.
In one of the most anticipated country cups of recent years, Leap to Fame was sent out a $2 favourite from Kingman ($2.40) despite the latter starting from the coveted pole, with the durable Swayzee ($7) the only other horse under double figures.
The order quickly took formation as Kingman held the lead and Leap To Fame kept him company on the outside. Bulletproof Boy was tucked in behind the leader, with Swayzee two horses back in the running line.
Despite a sizzling 26.3 back straight quarter, Kingman was unable to shake off Leap To Fame who issued a challenge on the last turn.
Kingman withstood the assault and appeared to have the Cup in his keeping half-way down the home straight, however Grant Dixon and Leap To Fame were far from finished.
With 100 metres to travel, Leap To Fame found sufficient in his considerable reserves to surge for victory one last time and incredibly managed to reel in Kingman and get up to score by a neck in a mile rate of 1:55.1 for the 2555m trip.
Dixon conceded the result wasn’t conclusive as he crossed the line.
“He felt super the whole way,” Dixon said. “I wasn’t even sure right on the line. I knew that I got super close and obviously close enough, and not really knowing the track and the winning post sort of thing, I really wasn’t 100 per cent confident until the numbers went up.”
Dixon said Leap To Fame had settled in and trained on since his gallant second behind Kingman in the Shepparton Cup a fortnight ago.
“In the last couple of weeks with being away, Trista and I have really been pleased with the way he’s been in himself and the way he’s been pulling up,” he said.
Dixon said last week’s track record Ballarat Cup win allayed any fears of ‘Larry’ not being at the top of his game.
“If he didn’t go really well last week then we were scratching our heads at where he’s at, but this week he has been just as well and I think his performances are really standing up now.”
In a boon for Kilmore, Leap To Fame needs to win its Cup next week to remain in the running for the $1m Summer of Glory bonus.
And Dixon admits the bonus was given due consideration when he decided to undertake an extended Hunter Cup campaign in Victoria.
“This is why we came down early to have a good try at it, but it still comes down that he has to have another good week,” he said.
