3 minute read
Champion Leap To Fame returns to action in Brisbane on Saturday night in preparation for another southern raid and a possible first overseas journey.
Leap To Fame cemented his reputation as modern day great with a thumping win in the Blacks A Fake in his home city in July, adding to an already remarkable resume that includes an Inter Dominion Final, Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup and three derbies.
Two accolades missing from his record are the Victoria Cup and an international win and the stallion looks likely to be given the chance to achieve both of those before the end of the year.
Leap To Fame's return in Saturday night's racingandsports.com Divided Open Pace at Albion Park looks like to be his only Queensland outing before he heads to Victoria.
His goal there will be the Victoria Cup - a race he finished third in last year – and he is likely to tune up in the Smoken Up Sprint the week before.
Success at Melton on October 12 should pave the way for Leap To Fame to cross the Tasman to tackle the New Zealand Cup in November.
Not only would an Addington win add another chapter to his tale of greatness but it would also follow in the footsteps of his half-brother Swayzee who scored a rare win for Australian-trained horses in last year's cup.
Several key rivals Leap To Fame is likely to encounter in the Victoria Cup will also amp up their campaigns in Friday night's Group 2 Kilmore Cup.
District Attorney heads south off a terrific effort for a 1.8m second in the Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle last start, his first outing since a successful Queensland carnival that saw him beat Leap To Fame at Redcliffe and finish second to the champ in the Sunshine Sprint.
His steps up in distance at Kilmore but is well served by the low draw.
His stablemate Major Moth led and faded as favourite in the Len Smith Mile but was flying before that, winning his first three starts for Jason Grimson.
They were over distances longer than the mile and he has won over the Kilmore Cup journey before so the step up should suit.
Last year's Kilmore Cup winner Better Eclipse copped a wide barrier in the Len Smith Mile so did well to finish 4.4m away. The Auckland Cup winner overcame a back row draw to score fresh at Melton two back so is going well.
Hector was only 5m away in the Len Smith Mile, his first outing since a placing behind Leap To Fame in the Blacks A Fake. He could feature with some luck from the back row.
Some classy trotters will line up in the Group 3 Kilmore Trotters Cup, headed by accomplished import Callmethebreeze.
The multiple Group 1 winner made it two from two this campaign when racing parked from a wide barrier last time at Geelong before toughing it out.
He faces the standing start and a 30m handicap on Friday but he has yet to miss a place when third-up so should be further improved and can land the hat trick.
Arcee Phoenix hasn't been far from the placings in two starts this time in, the latest when 4.5m behind Callmethebreeze.
He strikes at 50 per cent at Kilmore and has won third-up before so further improvement is likely. He could bridge the gap.
Keayang Chucky made it two wins from three starts since a spell when beating a handy field last week at Melton while Mufasa Metro is back from a let-up but is honest with a string of placings in good races.
