PASSIONATE breeder Paul Kahlefeldt has six children, but it’s two of his “other” kids he will be cheering for in the $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on Saturday night.
The Wagga-based Kahlefeldt not only bred Australia’s pacing sensation Leap To Fame, but also his main Blacks A Fake danger and half-brother, Swayzee. They dominate betting at $1.40 and $5 respectively.
And, more remarkably, the half-brothers also share the Albion Park 2138m track record and will relish the stretch to 2680m on Saturday night.
Kahlefeldt, an accountant by trade, started Redbank Lodge in Wagga 18 years ago where former talented race mare Lettucereason (she won 17 races and $180,073) gave birth to both Leap To Fame in November, 2018 and Swayzee a year earlier.
“I’d love to be at Albion Park to watch them race Saturday night, but I’m indisposed waiting for hip surgery,” Kahlefeldt said.
“Obviously, I’ve been following both their careers and I’m delighted with their achievements to date.
“Both Swayzee and ‘Larry’ (Leap To Fame’s stable name) had movie star looks.
“Larry is a real beast and who knows how far he could go, while Swayzee has gone to new heights (winning his past five starts) and continues to improve with each start.”
Swayzee, a son of Rock N Roll Heaven, sold for just $30,000 at the 2019 Australian Gold Sydney sale, while Leap To Fame, by the megastar sire Bettors Delight, fetched $47,500 at the same sale a year later.
While Leap To Fame has been a rock star since day one, Swayzee showed glimpse with trainer Tim Butt before joining the juggernaut that is NSW trainer Jason Grimson, where he’s won all five starts and stamped himself as a star on the rise.
Saturday night will be their first clash.
Swayzee broke the Albion Park 2138m track record with a blazing 1min52sec mile rate on June 20. Not to be outdone, Leap To Fame then equalled it with his monstrous Group 1 Rising Sun win on July 8.
Grimson opted to bypass last week’s Group 1 Sunshine Sprint won so impressively by Leap To Fame to focus on the Blacks A Fake.
While Leap To Fame has mesmerized and even intimidated most, the always bullish Grimson isn’t one of them.
“No, I’m certainly not scared of Leap To Fame,” he said at Monday’s barrier draw. “I guess we’ll find out on Saturday night who the better brother is.
“Swayzee has just kept getting better and he’s so strong. He’ll love the long (2680m) trip. He loves to just bowl along.
“Barrier two is ideal for him because he’s not the fastest beginner, but he’ll be up there and hopefully he can work forward and find the lead and run some terrific times.”
The staying distance will only be a positive for Leap To Fame, too. He’s raced six times beyond 2200m for five wins, three of those in Group 1 Derbys, and a close second to Captain Ravishing in a heat of the Victoria Derby.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
