Coup for Cranbourne with Larry likely to stick around

Victorian harness racing fans could see more of Australia’s top pacer Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) than expected.

In what could be an absolute coup, trainer-driver Grant Dixon confirmed he was “certainly looking seriously” at staying a week longer in Victoria for the $100,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup on February 10.

It would take the new timeslot for the feature country cup to a whole new level.

“I’ve spoken to Cameron (Gallagher) at the club and it sounds like a very suitable race … 2555 metres and random draw,” Dixon said.

“We had planned to just fly in-and-out of Melbourne for the Hunter Cup, but we’re giving Cranbourne serious consideration now.

“It’s a $100,000 race and you don’t get many of them, especially random draws over the longer distance which he loves.”

Dixon said the timing would also fit with plans to take Leap To Fame to the Newcastle Mile on February 23.

“To keep them up to the mark at this level, you’ve got to race them or give them a serious hit-out so to run him on the 10^th (of February) and then go to Newcastle 13 days later would work well,” he said.

Dixon has declared a preference to chase a Miracle Mile berth by winning the $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile rather than tackling one of the two lead-up sprints at Menangle on March 2, just a week before the Miracle Mile.

“Again, it’s about what fits best,” he said. “The timing of Newcastle is good. If you go to those sprints the week before, you’d have to go 1min48sec or so and then even quicker just a week later in the Miracle Mile.

“Newcastle gives you two weeks between runs and also fits better between the other races we have planned.”

In another twist, Dixon is also chasing a second Hunter Cup runner with his classy five-year-old Tims A Trooper.

A winner of 13 races and almost $400,000, Tims A Trooper has lived in the shadow of stablemate and contemporary Leap To Fame.

“He can compete well with those best horses, but he just needs the right sort of run,” Dixon said.

“I’d love to run him in the Hunter Cup, too. I’ve got him back at his top at the right time.

“He just wasn’t quite right during the (Brisbane) Inter Dominion last month and even if you’re five per cent, you’re going to struggle against the top ones.”

Looking further ahead, insiders say Leap To Fame’s owner Kevin Seymour is close to signing with a slot holder to contest the $NZ1mil Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 12.

Dixon confirmed the race was on the radar.

“Yes, but like all the big races, we’ll make the final call closer to it. He’s got a bit to get through between now and then,” he said.

“He seems to be thriving on the racing and keeping him in work for a race like that wouldn’t worry me. He seems to enjoy just having a week or two out here and there rather than a long spell.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria