Dixon gets his wish with pin-up pacer

Grant Dixon got his wish.

Thwarted by some Albion Park harness racing free-for-alls being scrapped in the past, Dixon was hopeful rather than expectant he would be able to run pin-up pacer Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) again at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Dixon felt another solid hit out would be ideal ahead of the $450,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup at Melton on February 3.

Pleasingly for Dixon and harness fans, Leap To Fame will have seven rivals in the Garrards Horse & Hound Open Pace (2138m) on Saturday night.

Dixon, who has three of the eight runners, will take the reins on Leap To Fame from a wide draw (gate six), but it will be a surprise if he doesn’t work forward and find the lead.

Stablemate Tims A Trooper, who returned to his best last start, has the pole and looks like the main danger.

Dixon is considering taking Tims A Trooper down to Melton with Leap To Fame to tackle a support race on Hunter Cup night.

Leap To Fame won easily in a brisk 1min52.9sec mile rate for 1660m last Saturday night, but Dixon felt another run would benefit him.

The five-year-old is a commanding $1.70 favourite for the Hunter Cup.

He will be looking to avenge a brave third in the Group 1 Victoria Cup when he last raced in Victoria back in October.

Leap To Fame has won his past six starts for a career haul of 30 wins (and six seconds) from just 40 starts.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia