It’s time to enjoy the ‘Harry and Larry Show’

Harness racing has its rockstar setting or Hollywood moment.

Just as David Bowie and Queen came together to record Under Pressure or, visually, the combined genius of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino made The Godfather II arguably the best movie of all-time, the brightest stars of harness racing strut their stuff at Melton tonight.

It will be a Hunter Cup night for the ages, stirring memories of the glory days for the sport.

And it’s all possible through the smart decision of Harness Racing Victoria to make it a super-charged meeting by adding the biggest trotting race in this part of the world, the Great Southern Star, to the Hunter Cup night menu.

So, now we have the “Harry and Larry Show”, or more formally, Just Believe (stable name Harry) and Leap To Fame (stable name Larry) chasing more Group 1 glory in two of the sport’s biggest and iconic races just moments apart.

It’s not the first time they have co-starred, but it’s never happened before at Victoria’s home of harness.

The last time they came together on the same stage was another big one, Inter Dominion final night at Brisbane’s Albion Park back on December 16.

And they didn’t let anyone down, including a packed Albion Park crowd.

Both won easily, even arrogantly.

Neither have lost since.

Both are on seven-race winning streaks heading to Melton and just last week Just Believe joined Leap To Fame as an equine millionaire.

Just Believe is trying to defend the Great Southern Star crown he won 12 months ago.

The Queensland-based Leap To Fame is trying to add another, even bigger layer, to his already great aura – winning a “mega” race outside of his own backyard.

In pacing, there aren’t many bigger stages than a Hunter Cup given the long and rich history of the feature and the plethora of superstars who have won it. Horses like Popular Alm, Preux Chevalier, Pure Steel, Gammalite, Village Kid, Blossom Lady and more recently Elsu, Blacks A Fake, Lazarus and King Of Swing.

Those are the sorts of names some have started to say Leap To Fame has the potential to be compared with if he continues his meteoric rise.

Personally, I think he’s got genuine Hall of Fame potential.

Leap To Fame still has plenty of time on his side, but defeats “away from home” in the Victoria Cup and TAB Eureka last year have left him with a void to fill – that big win on the road.

Most think it’s a box he will tick tonight.

If we’re lucky, Leap To Fame might even stick around and give Victorians another display of his talent in next Saturday night’s $100,000 Cranbourne Cup.

Meanwhile, somehow as an eight-year-old and with a daunting and gruelling Swedish trip behind him last year, Just Believe is actually getting better with each run.

There are no certainties in racing, but Jess Tubbs’ gelding has been so dominant, especially since returning from Sweden, it will be a big shock if he doesn’t claim a second Great Southern Star crown tonight.

Back at Albion Park on Inter Dominion final night, they called it the “Larry and Harry Show” – giving their local Leap To Fame first billing in the title.

At Melton, it will be the “Harry and Larry Show”.

Whatever the pecking order, we’re blessed to have two superstars of the game and potential all-time greats lightning up our biggest meeting of the year.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria