LEVIATHAN proprietor Kevin Seymour is breaking a promise to himself so his harness racing champion pacer Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) can race at Melton on Saturday evening.
Grant- Dixon and Leap To Fame after their Hunter Cup win
Leap To Fame, a winner of 42 of his 53 begins and over $3.2 million, may have the primary of two Melton begins within the $50,000 Smoken Up Dash. It’s an important lead-up to the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup per week later.
“I stated I’d by no means do it, journey him by highway virtually midway round Australia, however I’ve been left with no choice if I wish to help the business,” Seymour stated.
A annoyed Seymour and trainer-driver Grant Dixon have been left stranded by a scarcity of aircraft flights from Brisbane to Melbourne. That’s regardless of committing to spend upwards of $20,0000 for a one-way flight.
“There was no assure we’d get a flight subsequent week,” Seymour stated.
“Victoria has accomplished a lot to advertise Leap To Fame as their drawcard; I felt I needed to do one thing to get him there for the business’s sake.”
“I requested Grant to take him down by highway (Wednesday morning). I usually wouldn’t ponder such a visit, however I really feel compelled to play our half in serving to promote the game.”
“It’s additionally an enormous dedication from Grant and Trista (Dixon’s spouse), and they’re to be congratulated for making a particular effort.”
It’s the most recent “selfless” act from Seymour and the Dixons, who’ve beforehand taken him to regional tracks like Cranbourne, Newcastle, and Redcliffe to race.
There’s additionally unfinished enterprise for Leap To Fame at Melton after he was overwhelmed into third spot – albeit in a decent three-way end – as a scorching favorite in final 12 months’s Victoria Cup at his solely earlier begin within the race thought to be the Cox Plate of harness racing.
Extremely, Leap To Fame has raced 20 instances since for 18 wins, together with mega races just like the Brisbane Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup, Miracle Mile and Blacks A Faux.
He’s $1.70 to atone in Saturday week’s Victoria Cup.
Dixon was eager to get right down to Melton early for an additional lead-up race, regardless of Leap To Fame resuming with a blazing Albion Park win final Saturday evening.
“We simply felt we didn’t have him fairly as primed as we wanted final 12 months and don’t need that to occur once more, so one other race shall be excellent,” he stated.
It can even be a severe hit out, with Leap To Fame drawn awfully exterior the entrance row (gate seven) within the quick 1720m Smoken Up Dash.
His key rivals, who’ve all drawn higher, are headed by eight-time Group 1 winner Catch A Wave (gate two) and growth comeback pacer Captain Ravishing (six).
It will likely be Leap To Fame’s fifth begin at Melton and his first at a distance shorter than 2240m. He’s received two of his 4 runs, each in 2760m races (the 2022 Victoria Derby and 2024 Hunter Cup).
For full race entries, click on right here.
by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia
Seymour putting industry first with Leap To Fame
