By Adam Hamilton
There is no turning back this time.
After two aborted trips to NZ last year, champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame is definitely heading across this time for next Friday’s $1 million Race by betcha at Cambridge.
“Larry” will be on a flight from Sydney to Auckland at 11am Sunday morning, along with Australia’s two other highest profile Cambridge raiders, Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo and Inter Dominion trotting winner The Locomotive.
Leap To Fame returned to winning form when he smashed the 1660m track record winning at Albion Park last Saturday night.
“We felt it was best to get him back home after the Miracle Mile for a couple of weeks and I’m glad we did,” Dixon said.
“Even though it was a big drop back in class, he won really well the other night.”
The last time Dixon was in NZ, he campaigned millionaire pacer Colt Thirty One, who struggled racing the reverse direction, with limited success in the 2019 Auckland Inter Dominion. He ran third in a heat and fourth in the consolation.
“I’m excited about doing the trip. It’ll be the first time I’ve driven at Cambridge ,” he said.
Leap To Fame will be stabled with the Stonewall Stud team.
Dixon confirmed the Race by betcha would be a hit-and-run trip.
“He won’t be staying on for any of the other races. We want to get him home and give him a break before the (Brisbane) Inter Dominion,” he said.
The Race by betcha now has its field locked in with last night’s Waikato Flying Mile winner Chase A Dream being confirmed, along with former stablemate Don’t Stop Dreaming, and Ohoka Connor being announced today for Stonewall Stud.
The $1m Race by betcha field is :
Chase A Dream
Don Hugo
Don’t Stop Dreaming
Duchess Megxit
Leap To Fame
Merlin
Ohoka Connor
Pinseeker
Rakero Rocket
Republican Party
The $600,000 TAB Trot field is also complete with five Australians taking on Kiwi hopes Oscar Bonavena, after his big win last night, Bet N Win and Muscle Mountain.
The field is :
Arcee Phoenix
Bet N Win
I’m Ready Jet
Muscle Mountain
Not As Promised
Oscar Bonavena
Queen Elida
The Locomotive
