There aren’t many more superlatives to describe Australia’s favourite pacer Leap To Fame (Bettors Delight) after his courageous all the win in the Group 1 $150,000 Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup on Saturday evening.

Harness racing fans were treated to another wonderful performance as Leap To Fame was the only runner on the second line with the New Zealand star Republican Party drawn in two.

Shortly after the start Grant Dixon was able to work Leap To Fame one off the fence while Republican Party worked to the lead from War Dan Buddy. But then Dixon allowed Leap To Fame to stride around the field and he was able to take up the running with Republican Party stalking him right behind.

After getting a breather in the lead Leap To Fame ran his third quarter in 27.8 seconds with the final quarter in 27.1 seconds. Republican Party tried to gather in Leap To Fame but he couldn’t make up much ground and Leap To Fame had three metres giving the impression that he still had plenty left.

Obviously Carter Dalgety on Republican Party wasn’t going to give his horse a hard run and with next week’s Hunter Cup as his main aim he will be improved by the effort. However he is yet to beat Leap To Fame in their six meetings and its hard to see him turning the tables.

War Dan Buddy lost no admirers in rattling home for third.

LEAP TO FAME 7 FEB REPLAY

Grant Dixon reflected after the event.

We’re relieved that he won and everything went right. Just really pleased with him. It was a good run for him because he got to the line real strong. He didn’t have to do all the bullocking work tonight. And it was good to let him back off mid race and give him a good rest and then let him use his speed home.

It was good to give him that nice breather in the middle Next week we’ll let him gather himself a bit and hopefully be right for next week.

He always gives you a good feel in the run. I have to make him run a full quarter because point to point speed is not his greatest asset its more about him maintaining such a high tempo for a period of time. But I was just so happy as we hit the post he wasn’t ready to stop he was still strong going through to the line. This is the happiest that Trista (Grant’s wife) and I have been with him in his trips away. We just hope he has a no bad luck week if we hopefully line up next week.

Coming here to these tracks, people can get to see him and get a photo with him. It’s really exciting to be part of Larry’s racing.

The win was Leap To Fame’s 15^th Group 1 success and now he is only one behind the record equally held by Westburn Grant and Lazarus.

But in addition he’s creeping closer to the $1 million bonus on offer from harness racing Victoria as he has now won three legs at Ballarat, Cranbourne and now Kilmore. He’ll get the bonus if he wins next Saturday night’s $250,000 AG Hunter Cup.

As the nation’s leading stake earner, Leap To Fame has now taken his earnings to over $5,254,859 for 64 wins and 16 placings from 82 appearances.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink