08 March 2024 | NATIONAL TROTGUIDE | PAUL COURTS
HISTORY is against Queensland superstar Leap To Fame’s bid to join a pair of immortals.
Set to contest Saturday night’s Miracle Mile at Club Menangle, Leap To Fame is aiming to become just the third pacer to win Australia’s ‘Big Three’ – A G Hunter Cup, Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile – since the latter was added to the racing calendar in 1967.
Leap To Fame began his quest by capturing the Inter Dominion at his home track – Albion Park – on December 16 before winning the Hunter Cup in Melton on February 3.
As it stands, only Preux Chevalier and Village Kid have achieved the feat.
Just as Leap To Fame is attempting to do, Preux Chevalier and Village Kid completed the trio within one campaign stretched across a few months.
Beginning with the Miracle Mile at Harold Park on January 18, 1985, Preux Chevalier was then taken south to secure the Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on February 9 before capturing the Inter Dominion at the same venue on March 9.
Like Leap To Fame, Village Kid’s Inter Dominion glory came at Albion Park, but the series was the third leg of his hat-trick.
Annexing the Miracle Mile at Harold Park on January 24, 1986, Village Kid then won the Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on March 8, followed by his Inter Dominion Final triumph on April 19.
As for Leap To Fame he has to overcome a horror draw in the $1million Garrards-sponsored sprint.
With trainer Grant Dixon to take the reins, the son of Bettors Delight has drawn barrier nine, but slots into seven with the removal of the emergencies.
No winner of the Grand Circuit gem has come from wider than six.
Though Spankem carried seven on his saddlecloth during his 2019 victory, he began from six after the emergencies were taken out of the equation.
Despite the obstacles facing the stallion, TAB Fixed Odds have Leap To Fame listed as the $3 favourite.
“Obviously history says it hasn’t been done, but there is always a first for everything and hopefully it is him on Saturday,” Dixon said. “If he can win and be named alongside Preux Chevalier and Village Kid it is a pretty big effort.
“I’m very happy with where he is at and how he seems within himself, now it’s a matter of keeping him happy over the next couple of days.
“I thought last week’s heat winners (Speak The Truth and Hi Manameisjeff) were impressive and they’ll be the hardest to beat based on the draw.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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