Tritton labels Leap To Fame the best in the world

Former premiership-winning Aussie and now US-based harness racing trainer Shane Tritton insists Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) is the best pacer in the world.

Tritton predicted as much last year and said the Queensland sensation’s amazing past four months, capped by Saturday night’s historic $1mil Miracle Mile win, had cemented him on a level of his own.

“I got up at 4:30 a.m. (New York time) to watch him. I wasn’t going to miss it,” he said.

“There’s not another horse in the world who could’ve done what he did, and there’s not many in (Australian) history who could have.”

“It’s the hardest race to win because it’s a mile. Despite the huge opinion I’ve got of him, I was worried. I feared it could get ugly from his wide draw.”

“Even he had to go to a new level. They were all there to beat him after the run he had, but it took a champion effort, something you rarely see, to lift and win.”

“In this generation, he’s become so dominant nothing is going to beat him unless something goes wrong.”

Although it’s highly unlikely, Tritton said he would love to see Leap To Fame race against the best in North America.

“I’d love to see it while he’s at his top, say in the next 12 months. He’s capable of anything,” he said.

Tritton won the Menangle and NSW statewide premierships before relocating with wife, Lauren, to Pine Bush in upstate New York in March 2020.

The Trittons have enjoyed plenty of success and watched many of North America’s best pacers, most recently megastars and Dan Patch (Horse of the Year) winners Confederate (last year) and Bulldog Hanover (2022).

“I’m sure he’s as good as those two,” Shane said.

“As for where he sits with the greats back home, Blacks A Fake and I’m Themightyquinn are the two benchmark champions I raced against, and Leap To Fame is without a doubt in that league with them now. He’s only at the start of his open-class career, with so much to come.”

Owner Kevin Seymour, still buzzing after “one of the greatest thrills I’ve had across 50 years in the game”, said a decision would be made early this week on what’s next with Leap To Fame.

It is understood Seymour has agreed in principle with a slot owner to take Leap To Fame to New Zealand for the first time for the $NZ1mil Race By Grins at Cambridge on April 12.

“Give us a couple of days,” Seymour said. “What’s best for the horse has and always will come first.”

“Grant (Dixon, trainer-driver) and I have agreed to see how he comes through this win and give him a couple of days before we make any decisions.”

“It was a gut-buster to do what he did, but at the same time, he’s so tough and resilient. ”

“Grant’s done the most wonderful job with this horse. He knows him so well. The horse will tell him if he’s got another big run in him or if he needs a little break.”

Leap To Fame is still young and less than three months into his five-year-old season, but has already moved into eighth spot on the all-time prize money list for Australasian pacers with $2,765,957.

If he stays sound, he is on target to overtake the richest, fellow Queenslander Blacks A Fake, who banked $4,575,438.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia