Could Leap To Fame make a late dash for Victoria Cup glory?

COULD we see a late change of plans and Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) head to Melbourne for the Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 17?

Connections had ruled out the race dubbed the Cox Plate of harness racing, but a stunning first-up win at Albion Park last Saturday night will surely have them thinking again.

Speculation was rife at Albion Park last night that the Victoria Cup was back as a serious option.

The Victoria Cup is one of just two Australasian “mega” races to have eluded Leap To Fame in his 93-start career, which boasts 73 wins and over $6.5 million.

The other is the NZ Cup, which the rising eight-year-old is booked to chase at Addington in Christchurch on November 10.

Last year, Leap To Fame ran third to Kingman in the Victoria Cup and went on to finish second to the same pacer in the NZ Cup.

That was his third attempt to win the Victoria Cup. He also finished third in 2023 and was a hot favourite in 2024 before being scratched with a throat infection.

He will have to travel to fly from either Sydney or Melbourne to NZ for the Cup, so that adds to the Victoria Cup possibility.

So too does the fact trainer-driver Grant Dixon has stressed the importance of several strong lead-up races to prime Leap To Fame before taking on the NZ Cup, which is regarded as the toughest open-class feature race in this part of the world.

Despite his phenomenal record, Leap To Fame was made to really earn his first-up win at Albion Park again last night.

Classy speedster and main danger Captain Shuffles dashed to the lead from gate three and driver Nathan Dawson drove with one plan, make Leap To Fame work and chase as hard as possible on his outside.

There was a moment down the back straight when Captain Shuffles drew clear, but Dixon was able to drop in behind him on Leap To Fame and then came off his back at the top of the straight to win running away by 6.7m.

Despite being first-up for two-and-a-half months and without a trial, Leap To Fame clocked a scorching 1min49.1sec mile rate, just 0.5sec outside his own track record.

It was his first start since that luckless and monstrous second to wonder mare Captains Mistress in the Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 18.

Should he return to the Victoria Cup, it would see a much-anticipated rematch with Captains Mistress.

The mare has been primed by two recent Menangle trials and will return to racing at the same track next Saturday night.

Leap To Fame’s winning return launched what will be his final campaign of racing.

Beyond the NZ Cup, plans include the Blacks A Fake at Albion Park in December, Hunter Cup at Melton in February, Miracle Mile at Menangle in March and the Nullarbor and Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park in April before a huge farewell in the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July.

 

By Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing Australia