Older half-brother biggest threat to Leap To Fame

Pacing sensation Leap To Fame’s biggest danger looks to be his older half-brother Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) in Queensland’s biggest harness racing race, the $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake (2680m) at Albion Park on Saturday night.

And Swayzee’s trainer Jason Grimson was beaming with confidence he could upset Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight), the $1.30 favourite, after snaring barrier two.

“It’s a great draw for him. He’s not really quick off the gate, but he’s out of trouble there and hopefully he can work forward, find the front and run some serious time,” he said.

“I’m certainly not afraid of Leap To Fame. I guess we’ll find out on Saturday night who the better brother is.

“My horse has just kept improving since he joined the stable and he’ll love the long trip. He’s so strong and he loves to just keep rolling along.”

Swayzee is unbeaten in five runs for Grimson and shares the Albion Park 2138m track record with Leap To Fame. Both should relish the staying trip of 2680m.

Leap To Fame has been the star of the Queensland Constellations with three major wins, including the Group 1 double of the Rising Sun and Sunshine Sprint over the past two weeks.

The four-year-old, who boasts 22 wins from just 28 starts, will start from the back row (gate nine), but it’s the best draw he’s had yet during the Carnival.

Gate nine means he will start from two-out on the back row and follow out Swayzee at the start.

Leap To Fame was immediately posted a $1.25 favourite but eased to $1.30 with an avalanche of early money for Swayzee, who was crunched from $9 into $4.80.

Most of the fireworks came prior to the draw when Grimson took to social media to slam the Queensland officials field selection, which saw his recent $1mil Nullarbor winner Betterzippit overlooked for a berth.

“What’s Expensive Ego done in its last six starts to gain a start? Betterzippit won a million dollar race, went 1:48 and ran second in a Redcliffe Cup and can’t get in.” Grimson tweeted.

Leap To Fame has raced beyond 2200m on six occasions for five wins and a second to star Captain Ravishing in a heat of the Victoria Derby.

The other winner from the draw was emerging former Kiwi pacer Hot And Treacherous, who ran third to Leap To Fame in the Sunshine Sprint last week and has gate two on Saturday night. He’s a $9 shot.

Dual Miracle Mile runner-up Spirit Of St Louis, who flew home for second in the Sunshine Sprint, will come from the back row and same draw he had in that race (gate 10). He is $14.

Outstanding mare Amore Vita, a powerhouse winner of last Saturday night’s Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park, steps into Grand Circuit racing against the boys for the first time.

Champion driver Chris Alford will take the reins from an awful back row draw (gate 12).

It was a nasty draw for Amore Vita’s trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin who were also dealt gate 11 for Mach Dan, who was badly held-up and lost all chance in the Sunshine Sprint.

BLACKS A FAKE BARRIER DRAW: Front row: Hot And Treacherous, Swayzee, Turn It Up, Expensive Ego, Magnificent Storm, Manilla Playboy (emerg), Big Wheels. Back row: Blacksadance, Leap To Fame, Spirit Of St Louis, Mach Dan, Amore Vita, Taipo.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia