Leap To Fame

[Danno]

Apologies Kev if I have started another thread you didn't need, just couldn't find one. Leap to Fame has few knockers I know, but that performance in the A.G. Hunter Cup must tell us he is better than "special", The bloody horse seems to have an unfathomable bottom and the only reason Mark's horse got close to him seemed to be both horse and driver "clocked off". I think he is probably the best horse we have seen since Blacks a Fake, but yet to prove he has the "bottom" of horses like Cardigan Bay and Bold Biami. Not that I think that is beyond him, he is a truly great individual.

[Messenger]

You are totally right Dan and it was remiss of the forum not to have a Leap To Fame thread - now fixed!

[trish]

Well done to Grant Dixon & team with LTF.

[Danno]

As expected Leap To Fame far too good for the others tonight in the $100,000 Cranbourne Cup, a bit of travelling money before they take him home no doubt. I know Chris Alford was attempting to put Grant in 2 minds with the relentless pace he set, but this horse is the real deal and is such a beautiful, composed, professional racehorse he is versatile and deep enough to overcome his current opponents.

He may well be the Southern Hemisphere's first sub '46 horse, he is certainly capable of that should the planets align. He cruises 27.0 quarters and that is why I believe sub '46 is not out of his reach.

[Messenger]

Yes Dan, LTF has a different motor to the others. The Turner stable's plan for Pete to give Anna an easy lead was messed up by Jack Brown on Cya Art making sure Anna had to do a bit of work to get it

[Messenger]

Leap To Fame stretched his record to a remarkable 44 starts for 34 wins, eight placings and $2,215,957.

He will try to create history in the Miracle Mile by becoming the first pacer to win Australia’s “Triple Crown” – the Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile – in the one campaign.

https://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=64253

[Danno]

Leap To Fame stretched his record to a remarkable 44 starts for 34 wins, eight placings and $2,215,957.

He will try to create history in the Miracle Mile by becoming the first pacer to win Australia’s “Triple Crown” – the Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile – in the one campaign.

https://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=64253

Yes Kev,

as expected,he certainly wasn't extended last night but it was noticable that the horse is still developing his "ring craft" by the way he dropped them at the top of the Newcastle straight, not long ago he would have taken a little longer to wind up into overdrive.

Don't want to put the "mocker" on him for the Miracle Mile, bad luck has beaten many a horse but that is what it will take.

[Messenger]

Champion

[Danno]

Champion

Yes Kev, he is absolutely one out of the box and if the planets align I believe he is capable of a sub '46 mile. Whether that ever occurs or not if he stays reasonably sound it will be something to see how far he can go. Great horses of recent times like Blakes A Fake, Our Sir Vancealot, Beautide ( Who I was a huge fan of) and company were not quite as convincing as this bloke. He has a way to go to measure up to the legends but I believe he has the qualities to perhaps achieve that. AWESOME horse, he seems to have it all bar exceptional gate speed. If he was a Rugby League Player he would be getting compared to Cessnock lad Andrew "Joey" Johns who had the unique ability to be exceptional at every single facet of that game.

[Messenger]

CHAMPION pacer Leap To Fame will bypass the lure of two rich slot races to have a spell and prepare for his home Queensland Winter Carnival.

Grant Dixon's mighty five-year-old was into $1.60 favourite for the $NZ1mil Race By Grins at Cambridge on April 12 after his stunning and historic Miracle Mile win at Menangle last Saturday night.

But owner Kevin Seymour revealed today Leap To Fame would go for a break rather than travel to NZ.

"He had an extremely tough run last Saturday night. It was a gruelling mile, and he went flat out," Seymour said. "He was still a bit flat today, so he won't be going to NZ."

"It's all about what's best for the horse and protecting the longevity of his career at the top level. We want to race him on for another couple of years, not be a one-season wonder."

https://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=64491

Good to read this

[Danno]

Although there are no surprises the LTF camp are keen to look after him, its great to see they actually are. Plenty of others have succumbed to the lure of "quick, easy dollars while the fire is stoked" and have brought their stars undone. Fingers crossed he races on without major issues to reward them for their care and so we can all continue to see another superstar strut his stuff for a while yet. The Dixon's were a big part of ensuring Blakes A Fake was given every opportunity to fully develop his potential and while Blackie was able to do things none before him had, in my humble opinion this bloke is on a slightly higher level. Like Lazarus and Blackie he is a true stayer, but unlike them he possess' the raw ability to completely outclass genuine "Milers". I don't think I have seen a better horse, time will tell.

[trish]

I know he is good enough but this is a big ask, with a field of 13.
Good Luck.

[Messenger]

Plenty of traffic to get through but over the distance I still think he only has to step to win

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP080624#APC08062401

[Danno]

Plenty of traffic to get through but over the distance I still think he only has to step to win

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP080624#APC08062401

Agree on both counts Kev,

wicked luck would seem to be the only thing that could beat him in this one, the distance is his friend, he is a genuine stayer and at some stage the pace will back off so he can get a bit closer. The handicap isn't an issue, he is capable of giving these a lot more start than 20m.

Cheers!

[Danno]

As expected, LTF far too good, but gee his ring skill are improving all the time, Grant was able to turn him on and off like a tap tonight and Larry obliges without a hair raised! Nice final 200m as well, just to open the pipes up.

[trish]

Rather good isn't he.
Well done to all.

[Messenger]

and he took a full second off the Tk Rec

[Messenger]

A rare defeat last night. Excellent drive by Jack C
The race was not 'tough enough' for LTF but you cannot blame Grant for setting that pace, you don't want to be giving him a gut buster every race (and he did have his danger on his back)
Last year when he won this race, coming from last with a massive last lap, he set a Tk Rec with a MR 2.3 secs faster than last night

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=RE210624

Last year's

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=RE160623#REC16062301

[Messenger]

A shorter trip but last night we asked the D.A how he liked a 26.2 Q3

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP060724#APM06072401

[Danno]

A shorter trip but last night we asked the D.A how he liked a 26.2 Q3

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP060724#APM06072401

He is in a different grade to those horse Kev, effortless 1.50.2 at AP in traffic to the death. I'd love to see what he can do towards the end of a full preparation and racing campaign at Menangle, I have myself convinced he can get under '46 but we will probably never get to see that.

[Messenger]

I agree Dan. He is the horse of a lifetime
Somehow it does not seem right that he is going around in a race for a mere $18k (first) - he shouldn't have to get out of his stable for that
The equivalent multi millionaire in the thoroughbred world would have been racing exclusively in Group races - I don't know that I would if my surname was Seymour but maybe he should be in the US. I think I would rather stay home with my boy as the money is not important really

[trish]

LTF a real Champion. Great to see him win .

[Danno]

The best Pacer the world has seen since Cardigan Bay and he doesn't need to go to the Northern Hemisphere to prove it, but gee it would be great to see. He is the total package just as Cardy was.

[Messenger]

Simply Awesome!

[trish]

Agree. Amazing horse.

[Messenger]

Leap To Fame is why we had Stand Start races - without him handicapped, nothing is going to beat him

[trish]

In all my years of being involved in HR I have never seen a horse like him , well except for the mighty Evils Afoot.
Mark can not understand how you didn't win the MM with her Dan.

[Danno]

In all my years of being involved in HR I have never seen a horse like him , well except for the mighty Evils Afoot.
Mark can not understand how you didn't win the MM with her Dan.

I blame myself Trish, after the excitement of Broken Hill and then Maitland, I thought we had achieved everything possible......and forgot about the MM.
If only I could retrace the steps.

Larry continues to set new standards, he is on another level to the great horse of recent times, Westburn Grant was a superstar in his day that could mix it with the best over the Mile and also over 2 miles, but he was a far better horse when he led. Just like Cardigan Bay, Larry doesn't seem to are where he sits in the running, his tractability, bottom and versatility continue to set him apart.

Fingers crossed for his connections, I just love watching him compete.

[Danno]

They were strung out like Browns Cows at the end of that, such a dominant performance AGAIN, the further they go, the more he makes them look second rate. In races like that you usually see the other drivers just trying to run a good second or third. I have to say it didn't look like that for as many as usual.

[trish]

I woukd love to see what he could do to the world record at The Meadowlands set by Bulldog Hanover but he has nothing to prove, he is simply the best I have seen.

[Messenger]

And he took .7 secs off his own Tk Rec

[Messenger]

LTF resumes in a $21k race at AP on Saturday night

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP180125#APM18012501

[Messenger]

LTF is odds on for the Hunter Cup and $2.30 for the MM
Ridiculous odds until we are sure he is really back

[Messenger]

I finally watched the replay from Saturday night - I don't know that he could have been more impressive first up. He is awesome

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP180125#APM18012501

[trish]

I finally watched the replay from Saturday night - I don't know that he could have been more impressive first up. He is awesome

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP180125#APM18012501



He is a beautiful pacer , it looks all to easy for him . One of the best of all time . You can NOT compare him to other horses in other decades but he is better than any horse I have seen in my past. IMO.

[Messenger]

Boy! Will he make mince meat of this field

[trish]

He will win on his ear, he is that good. Only bad luck can beat him.

[trish]

He is a freak , new track record last night .

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP220325#APM22032501

[Danno]

WOW!!!!

https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=42A19E76-3B8B-4B41-B3E3-2B0C29498C37&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE

[trish]

And NOT even a story on LTF win on harness.org.au

[trish]

https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/night-of-champions-an-australian-perspective/




I had to put more pressure on than I did in the Miracle Mile.

[Danno]

https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/night-of-champions-an-australian-perspective/




I had to put more pressure on than I did in the Miracle Mile.

Yes Trish,

watching the race unfold you could see Grant really pushing Larry harder further from home than he ever has but he knew he had to do just that or get "outsprinted" over the last furlong or so. What a horse! is there ANY bottom to him??because they certainly haven't found it yet. It will never happen but gee I'd love to see him take on the very best the US has over at least 2000m but preferably something closer to 3200m. The dopey septics would be forced into admitting they don't have the worlds best pacers.

[trish]

I agree with everything you have to say Dan but the horse does have a bottom , it is under his tail . Hahahahaha