Leap To Fame ready for ‘superstar’ status

Superstar status goes on the line at Menangle tonight when short-priced favourite Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) tackles the richest harness race ever run in the Southern Hemisphere.

He’s already the pride of Queensland and tonight that reputation faces its toughest test when the four-year-old takes on some of the best pacers in Australasia in the $2.1m TAB Eureka.

His trainer-driver Grant Dixon has been around long enough to know what’s required to win top class races: the 50-year-old trainer driver already has 20 Group 1s to his credit.

“We’ll be ready,” said Dixon.

“I think it’s been a long-term plan and this race was always on our minds so nerves is not really an issue . . . we just want a good preparation and now a good drive.

“I don’t like to treat any races like it will be the last one I will drive him in.

“But tonight is probably the biggest race he’ll contest in his career – and hopefully we’ve got him right.

“We gave him a good hit-out at home with a galloping pacemaker and he did it well and he’s had a lot of strong work.

“His weight was right where we wanted it and his blood’s good.

“His work has been as good as it’s been, so we feel we couldn’t have done any more.

“He’s not a gross-doing horse. He eats well and we’re pleased enough with where he’s at.”

Dixon said his plans would definitely include staying close to Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave, regarded as his biggest danger.

“You have to find a happy medium,” he said.

“There’s multiple chances if the two fancies [Leap To Fame and Catch A Wave] go to war and there’s multiple chances that will run home, that’s for sure.

“Captain Ravishing is an ‘X factor’ horse and although he has a chequered prep they are obviously happy with him now and expect him to run a race.”

Certainly drawing wide for tonight’s Eureka at Club Menangle has done little to affect Leap To Fame’s quote.

A short $1.70 TAB Fixed Odds favourite before the barrier reveal, Leap To Fame drifted ever-so-slightly to $1.80.

Miracle Mile hero Catch A Wave is considered the main danger at $4.

On the opposite end of the scale, Ripp and My Ultimate Ronnie have been major drifters.

Opening at $71, Ripp is now $126, while My Ultimate Ronnie has ballooned from $34 to $101.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW