Leap To Fame Photo by Dan Costello
RECENTLY crowned Inter Dominion champion Leap To Fame returns from a freshen-up at Albion Park on Saturday night as he chases further riches interstate.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon will use the 1660m free-for-all as Leap To Fame's only lead-up race ahead of the $450,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup at Melton on February 3.
One of his major Hunter Cup rivals, Miracle Mile hero Catch A Wave, is also set to return on Saturday night in a surprise switch of plans by trainer Andy Gath.
Catch A Wave was slated to tackle a heat of the 1200m Mercury80 series at Melton on Friday night, but a stunning Melton trial win last night (Monday) convinced Gath to change plans.
"As you know, he was never going to Ballarat, but the nominations weren't as strong as thought; there's no Akuta or Leap To Fame, and then when he trialled so well, I thought we had to give it a go," Gath said. "If he runs this weekend, it'll be at Ballarat, not Melton."
"We'd been really happy with him at home, but to come out and give really good horses like that a start and beat them was terrific."
Catch A Wave was privately timed to run his last 400m in 25.2sec, which is believed to be the fastest closing split run at Melton.
The five-year-old settled last of three runners with proven topliners and Emma Stewart-trained stablemates Mach Dan (leading) and Encipher (behind leader) in front of him.
Catch A Wave was still a clear last at the top of the home straight but rocketed home along the inside.
"It was great to see him hit the line so well, and Kate (Gath, driver) said he did it comfortably," Gath said.
Leap To Fame will have a lower key return when he steps out at Albion Park about an hour before Catch A Wave runs at Ballarat.
"I'm just thrilled to get any lead-up race with him," Dixon said. "He's missed out on a few with lack of numbers in the past, but it's great they got a field this week."
"I was going to wait and run him next week, but it's a longer race, and we thought it was more of a risk of not standing up."
"Even though he's really well and didn't lose much fitness during his few days off, it's always great to have a lead-up race with them when you can."
Dixon said Leap To Fame had "about a week off" after winning the Inter Dominion.
"Despite all the hard racing and those four runs in 15 days, he didn't need a break. He was raring to go straight after he won the final," he said.
"He's coped with all the hard racing and his first season in the biggest races really well."
"He'll be tightened up more than when we went to Melbourne last time (for the Victoria where he ran third) in October."
"He's fitter this time and has thrived through the hard racing,"
Dixon confirmed Leap To Fame would travel by plane to and from Brisbane and only have one race in Victoria.
"Then we'll set our sights on the Miracle Mile," he said. "I'm leaning towards taking him to the Newcastle Mile (February 23) to try and get his way in the Miracle Mile."
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
