Leap To Fame arrives in New Zealand this weekend

Champion pacer Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) will have a harness racing travelling mate when he jets over to Auckland tomorrow (Sunday).

Trainer Grant Dixon confirmed his underrated four-year-old Aroda will join Leap To Fame on the flight and, hopefully, in Tuesday week’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway.

Aroda, a former Kiwi who boasts 13 wins from 38 starts and over $240,000, has enjoyed a terrific season.

He is right on the borderline for a start in the Cup.

The son of Art Major won the Group 2 Redcliffe Gold Cup on June 29 and backed-up a week later to add victory in the Queensland Sun.

Aroda followed those big wins with a terrific third to Wisper A Secret and Don Hugo in the Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park.

Of course, Don Hugo went on to win the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka on September 7.

Crucially, Aroda’s Redcliffe Cup win came from a standing-start and over a staying trip of 2613m.

He stepped away brilliantly from the stand to lead throughout in that race.

“He’s a good stayer, likes the standing start and he’s really pleased us winning his past couple at Albion Park,” Dixon said.

“We know it’s a big step-up, but we think he’ll be suited by the race and very competitive.

“It’s also a bit of a dream for Greg, his owner (Albion Park chairman Greg Mitchell) to have a runner in an NZ Cup.”

Dixon also has the option of leaving Aroda in NZ for the new $200,000 Group 1 Christian Cullen for four-year-old pacers at Addington on December 6.

Leap To Fame has thrilled Dixon since his important and impressive Menangle win last Saturday night.

It was the win that confirmed he was over a virus which forced him out of the Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 12.

“We were really pleased with the win and he’s done everything right since,” Dixon said.

“All going well with the trip across and he’ll go around in the Cup trial at Addington on Wednesday.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand