The hunt for the next great pacer is on

The pecking order for Australasia’s top pacers makes for a fascinating discussion.

It is why the back half of 2024, especially the open-class harness racing features, like the Blacks A Fake, Len Smith, Victoria Cup and Inter Dominion shape as terrific contests.

There is no doubt Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) is a clear top seed.

The recent features in Perth and, even more so NZ, have only served to really emphasise that.

But the pending return of his older sibling Swayzee and Catch A Wave’s stunning WA deeds have added plenty of spice to the line-up who will try and dethrone Leap To Fame in months to come.

Young Kiwis Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming have shown they have what it takes and should only keep improving.

Then there is Chariots Of Fire winner Frankie Ferocious, who was put on ice after a fantastic fourth behind Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile on March 9.

Other four-year-olds like Victoria’s The Lost Storm and Perth pair Never Ending and Mister Smartee also ooze serious Grand Circuit potential.

Sure, that quartet, including Frankie Ferocious, will focus on age group races like the Rising Sun at Albion Park and TAB Eureka at Menangle, but we will see them across open-class races like the Victoria Cup, WA Pacing Cup and maybe even the Inter Dominion later in the year.

And they, along with Kiwi four-year-olds Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming, are the next wave.

We also need to factor in buzz mare Aardies Express. It’s very rare a mare can match it with the boys in the biggest open-class features, but the way she won last Saturday week’s Queen Elizabeth II at Menangle was mind-blowing.

She still looks untapped and it’ll be fascinating if she steps outside the bubble of racing her own sex during upcoming Queensland Constellations.

The way she beat Ladies In Red, if she keeps progressing, she will surely be given that chance.

For me, there is something really exciting about the pending return of Swayzee.

The thought of him resuming his rivalry with younger sibling Leap To Fame, as well throwing in some other big names, is lick your lips stuff.

Remember, Swayzee has a 1-1 record against Leap To Fame. He beat him in the Blacks A Fake last July and then ran a very brave third to him in the Brisbane Inter Dominion last December.

His trainer Jason Grimson admitted the task of going to the NZ Cup and getting back to Brisbane for the Inter Dominion – especially all the associated travel – meant Swayzee wasn’t at his absolute best through that series.

But he is adamant the six-year-old has come back really well after a longer than expected spell because of a minor setback and can’t wait to step him out at the Menangle trials on Wednesday.

Swayzee and Grimson are a perfect match.

Grimson loves a challenge and won’t take a backward step. Swayzee is tough as old boots and goes best when driven with daring and aggression.

Case in point being Cam Hart’s drive in that Blacks A Fake.

A fit, healthy and firing Swayzee will be good for the sport, especially the major races.

Leap To Fame has humbled most others going around and, as often happens with champions, he would likely have intimidated his way through some big races when he returns.

But there is no intimidating Swayzee at his top.

Not that Leap To Fame won’t beat him anyway, but you can bet he’ll really have to earn it.

And if you’re training those pacers on the next tier, most notably a Catch A Wave, Merlin or Don’t Stop Dreaming, you’d almost be hoping Swayzee comes back at his top.

You’d then have the chance to try and stalk and beat Leap To Fame, rather than have to go hoof-to-hoof with him.

This is shaping as the best Queensland (Constellations) winter carnival in recent memory, but we will have to wait longer for all the open-class stars to come together.

In fact, it may not be early next year.

Catch A Wave isn’t going to Brisbane and is unlikely for the Inter Dominion, so the Victoria Cup looks like his next likely clash with Leap To Fame.

Maybe Swayzee will be in the Victoria Cup, but Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming won’t be with their own NZ Cup not long after.

So, what’s the moral of the story?

Leap To Fame is potentially an all-time great and what he’s achieved in less than a year in the big league is remarkable.

But his next year promises to be a lot harder.

If he can maintain the same sort of dominance against a stronger and youthful bunch of challengers, he will truly enter the conversation with the best we’ve seen.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria