Tricky draw might leave Leap To Fame vulnerable again

Grant Dixon isn’t too fazed about a barrier draw many believe could spark champion pacer Leap To Fame’s (Bettor’s Delight) second consecutive harness racing defeat.

The five-year-old powered his way to 13 successive wins, including the Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile, before a shock loss in the Patrons Purse at Redcliffe on June 21.

Leap To Fame went out a $1.04 favourite and led but was run down late by District Attorney, who trailed him throughout.

District Attorney, unbeaten in two runs for new trainer Jason Grimson, was a $15 outsider that night but has been backed from $2.30 into $2.20 to repeat the dose in Saturday night’s Wondais Mate Sprint (1660m) at Albion Park. Leap To Fame has eased from $1.80 to $1.90.

That’s largely because Leap To Fame has drawn barrier one and most form analysts expected renowned speedster Turn It Up to cross him early from gate two. District Attorney, who began brilliantly at Redcliffe, will be charging forward, too.

“Yes, barriers one and eight (inside the back row) are the two draws you don’t really want with him (Leap To Fame),” Dixon said.

“But he can brush out pretty quickly when we really want to, and we’ll be doing our best from the pole.”

If Leap To Fame leads or is behind the leader, he will clearly be the horse to beat. But if he’s shuffled to three back on the inside, things get tricky.

While Dixon would love Leap To Fame to rebound this week, his major focus is further ahead in the $200,000 Group 1 Sunshine Sprint (July 20) and $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake (July 27).

“Given we missed the Redcliffe Cup last week, which I’m sure was the right thing to do from a 30m handicap given the way the race was run, I might even run him again next week (in the Mr Feelgood) as well,” Dixon said.

“I like to keep him right up to the mark, and the Mr Feelgood is 2138m, which would be good heading towards a staying race like the Blacks A Fake.”

Dixon is also excited with the progress of his two-year-old Fate Awaits, ahead of the inaugural $500,000 Protostar at Albion Park on July 27.

“I was really pleased with his trial (Tuesday, Albion Park),” he said.

“The trip down to Melbourne certainly hasn’t taken anything out of him.”

“There’s a race the week before the Protostar, and I’d think we’d take him there for his next run.”

Leap To Fame will share top billing at Albion Park on Saturday night with Chariots Of Fire winner Frankie Ferocious, who resumes from a spell in the second race as he prepares for Saturday week’s $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun.

The Queensland-owned Frankie Ferocious won the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire in February and hasn’t raced since a fantastic fourth to Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile on March 9.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia