Leap To Fame odds-on after Victoria Cup barrier draw

Star Queenslander Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) has retained TAB favouritsm for the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup following this morning’s harness racing barrier draw.

Grant Dixon’s colt currently sits as a $1.90 chance for the Grand Circuit classic after coming up with gate five (emergency Bulletproof Boy has three) and occupies the top line of betting ahead of Michael Stanley’s defending champ Rock N Roll Doo ($4.50) in four.

Better Eclipse landed the coveted barrier one and is rated an $8 chance on early markets, with Captain Ravishing $9 from 10.

Hi Manameisjeff (nine) and Catch A Wave (six) are $13 and $14 chances respectively, while Emma Stewart’s quintet of Honolua Bay (two), Encipher (12), Mach Dan (eight), Act Now (11) and Amore Vita (seven) are outsiders in the market at $15 or better.

Spirit Of St Louis has the job ahead of him from gate 13 and is regarded a $41 longshot for the $300,000 feature.

Rock N Roll Doo sat parked to win last year’s edition of the great race, defeating runner-up Honolua Bay and third-placed Better Eclipse.

Meanwhile, respective heat winners Petracca and The Real Sherlock are the horses to beat according to the TAB in the Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby Final.

Petracca opened a $2.10 chance for the Group 1 showdown after coming up with barrier 10, while The Real Sherlock is $2.60 from outside the front row.

Captain Hammerhead has the ace gate and is the other runner in single figures at $7, with The Lost Storm $10 following his shock defeat in the qualifiers and after receiving a wide back row starting position of 12.

Major Delight opened a $2 favourite for the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks Final despite landing in barrier 10, while recently-crowned Vicbred Super Series champ Sahara Breeze is well fancied at $3.50 from the pole.

Sweet Bella, from three, opened at $5 and quickly drifted to $6, while stablemate Joyful ($6.50, barrier eight) and heat winner First Dance ($7.50, barrier two) are the other fillies currently in single figures.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria