By Adam Hamilton
Champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame’s chances of being at Addington next month have dramatically improved.
The trip across for next month’s iconic $1m IRT NZ Trotting Cup looks in tatters when Leap To Fame was scratched from last Saturday’s Group 1 Victoria Cup with a virus.
But a speedy recovery and planned 2300m race at Sydney’s Menangle track on Saturday week look set to revive the five-year-old’s first trip to New Zealand.
“It’s not a yes, but we’re in a lot better place than we were a few days ago,” Leap To Fame’s owner Kevin Seymour said.
“The horse has recovered well, so well, Grant (Dixon, trainer-driver) floated him from Melbourne up to Sydney last night (Tuesday). He wouldn’t have done that unless he felt the horse had fully recovered.
“The steps from here are to fast work him late this week and aim towards that 2300m free-for-all at Menangle on Saturday week.
“He’ll need to continually please Grant in his track work to get to that race and then if he comes through it well, we will push ahead with the trip.”
Leap To Fame, a winner of 43 of his 54 starts and over $3.2 million, is booked on a flight from Sydney to Auckland on November 3.
He will then take another flight from Auckland to Christchurch for the NZ Cup at Addington on November 12.
“All going well, he can have another strong and important hit out over there (NZ),” Seymour said.
“There’s so many Kiwis who want to see him go and they’ve all been telling me about this Cup trial they have at Addington a week before the big race. That’s where we would head if he does everything right between now and then.
“I’m just so pleased things look good again. You know much it would mean to take him to NZ and run in such a special race as the NZ Cup.
“Our wish is for this horse to be remembered as one of the all-time greats. He’s well on his way, but a trip to NZ, and especially a big win like that, would take him to another level.”
Leap To Fame eased to as much as $2.50 for the NZ Cup when strong doubts emerged, but firmed back to $2 with the brighter news today.
