Dixon wary of Swayzee in $400,000 Group 1

Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) hasn’t beaten Leap To Fame for a year, but Grant Dixon is still very wary of him going into their rematch in Saturday night’s $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.

The siblings have clashed twice since Swayzee shocked a big Albion Park crowd and upstaged Leap To Fame in last year’s Blacks A Fake.

Leap To Fame has been dominant, winning both subsequent clashes, the latest just two weeks ago in the Group 3 Mr Feelgood at Albion Park on July 13.

“I’m sure Swayzee will be fitter and harder to beat this time,” Dixon said.

“I know we beat him pretty easily last time, but he really had to burn at the start to find the lead, and he also hadn’t raced for a few weeks going into that run.”

“Swayzee is better suited in the longer race this week too. Not that Leap To Fame won’t be, but Swayzee looks more an out-and-out stayer.”

“I’ve got plenty of respect for him. I’m expecting another great contest this week, especially if Swayzee gets a better barrier draw and can settle in front of us.”

Leap To Fame capped his preparation with the 10th Group 1 win of his stellar career in last night’s Group 1 Sunshine Sprint, a race he also won last year before finishing second to Swayzee in the Blacks A Fake.

Dixon knows he has a better horse this time.

“He was only a four-year-old last year and is now right at his peak at five,” he said.

“He’s had that extra year of seasoning in the big races, and he’s had a really good build-up for this race.”

For context, Leap To Fame has raced 22 times since last year’s Blacks A Fake for 18 wins, two seconds, a third and a fourth.

The wins include Australia’s three biggest races: the Inter Dominion final, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile.

Swayzee’s had 11 starts in that time for six wins, two seconds, two-thirds and a fourth. He did what very few Aussies have by going to Christchurch and winning the iconic NZ Cup last November.

Dixon isn’t getting caught up on the redemption theme many are pushing, given Leap To Fame carried a flat tyre in the closing stages of last year’s Blacks A Fake.

“It’s just another big race. It’s an important one because it’s our (Queensland’s) biggest race, and I’d love his name to be on the Honour Roll, but he’s won so many big races it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t win it,” he said.

Leap To Fame is $1.50 in pre-draw Blacks A Fake markets, with Swayzee at $6.

In other stable news, Dixon will rely on a blood test tomorrow (Monday) with his exciting youngster Fate Awaits before deciding if he takes his place in Saturday night’s inaugural $500,000 Protostar after disappointing last night.

Dixon was thrilled with Free Thinker’s win in the $207,000 The Hayden, which booked him the Racing Queensland slot in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka at Menangle on September 7.

“It was like a double win,” he said.

“We’d hoped this guy would step up for the Eureka, and he’s certainly done that.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia