Leap To Fame ID23 Final Win Photo by Dan Costello
LEAP To Fame has run second in the $2.1mil TAB Eureka and won the $1mil Miracle Mile, but a lowly $32,376 race at Albion Park on Saturday night looms as one of the most important of his career.
That's because the Flashing Red Handicap will be the champion pacer's first try at standing-start racing and will go a long way to deciding if he chases the iconic New Zealand Cup – arguably the world's most famous standing-start race – in Christchurch on November 12.
As dominant as Leap To Fame was winning first-up from a break at Albion Park last Saturday night, this is a whole different challenge.
Not only does the five-year-old have to handle the standing start, but he will also be the lone back marker, giving away a 20m handicap.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon has given the champ two standing start trials, the latest on May 24 when Leap To Fame stepped slowly but safely and went on to easily win the trial.
"He stepped away OK, not great, but OK," Dixon said.
"It was only his second try from the stand and his first for a year, so he should be better for it."
Dixon underlined the importance of Saturday night's race.
"Yes, it's big for him. To run in the Redcliffe Cup (June 29), he needs to have stepped away safely in a standing start race before it, and this is the race we've targeted a long way out for him to do that," he said.
"It's important he gets it right this week to go on to Redcliffe because we think the Redcliffe Cup, with a good crowd close to the horses, is as close to the NZ Cup start experience we can give him over here."
"We'd love to go to the NZ Cup; I think it's pretty much the benchmark for great races in this part of the world, but he's got to be handling the standing starts well for us to go ahead with the trip."
Dixon said Leap To Fame had come through his dominant first-up win in good style.
"We were really pleased with him, and it's good to have that run under his belt for what will be a tough race, even if he does step well this week," he said.
"It's a big field (13 runners), and there are horses getting a big head start on him who is capable of running quick times and making it very hard for us."
Meanwhile, Leap To Fame's older half-brother Swayzee will continue his preparation for another Brisbane raid when he lines up at Menangle on Saturday night.
Swayzee, who upset Leap To Fame in last year's Group 1 Blacks A Fake, returned from a long spell with a powerhouse victory at Menangle last Saturday week.
The mighty stayer then went on to become just the second Aussie-trained pacer to win the NZ Cup since My Lightning Blue in 1987.
Swayzee is headed towards a rematch with Leap To Fame in the $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on July 27.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
