Leap To Fame on his way to defending Grand Circuit title

Queensland champion Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) is well on his way to successfully defending his Australian Grand Circuit harness racing title, and the season is just getting started.

Grant Dixon’s superstar narrowly won the crown for the first time last season when his Brisbane Inter Dominion win last December took him to 200 points and elevated him above last year’s Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave (160).

But a “perfect” start to the 2024 Grand Circuit has Leap To Fame panels ahead of his rivals on 200 points – 100 points each for his Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile wins. Young Kiwi star Dont Stop Dreaming is a distant second on 70 points.

Leap To Fame will miss the third leg of the Grand Circuit – the $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park on April 26 – meaning his next chance to increase his lead will come in his own backyard in the $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on July 27.

It’s quite fitting because that’s where it all started on the Australian Grand Circuit for Leap To Fame when a monstrous second to older half-brother, Swayzee, in last year’s Blacks A Fake.

He went on to finish third in the Victoria Cup and won the Brisbane Inter Dominion last December.

Leviathan owner Kevin Seymour was moved to declare Leap To Fame a champion after his almighty Miracle Mile win, where he became the first pacer to win the great race from barrier seven.

“I’ve reserved my judgement until now; tonight he proved he’s a champion by sitting in the ‘death’ (outside the leader) in such quick time and winning,” he said.

Leap To Fame’s 1min48.3sec mile was the fourth fastest Miracle Mile of all time.

“I can’t believe he could sit parked in the death and beat such a great field. I’m just so proud and it goes to show I do believe in miracles.”

“It’s also my first Miracle Mile win after more than 50 years in the game. It’s the one big race to escape me, and now we’ve got it, and he’s done it by completing the Triple Crown, which is the icing on the cake.”

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon was as proud as excited after the win.|

“I’m so rapt for the horse; he really deserved that. That other horse (Sooner The Bettor) had a much softer run and really came at him, but he put his down and wanted to get to the line.”

“This horse has given me the best part of my career, and Trista (Dixon, wife) is the best part of my life. Having her and the kids here is just so special.”

LEAP TO FAME MIRACLE MILE REPLAY

Leap To Fame’s win took his record to an amazing 45 starts, 35 wins, six seconds, 2 thirds, and earnings of $2,765,957. He is now eighth on the all-time prize money list for an Australasian pacer.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia