The three-time Australian Horse of the Year and all-time Australasian prize money record holder posted his 67th win from 86 starts.
It was his 44th win from just 50 starts at Albion Park, taking him to outright fifth on list for most wins at “The Creek” behind Destreos (73), Our Overanova (51), Nickys Falcon (47) and Colt Thirty One (44).
Racing Queensland seized the opportunity to acknowledge Leap To Fame’s amazing career, which gained another remarkable chapter with his off-the-canvas win in the $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle two weeks earlier.
It was Leap To Fame’s second Miracle Mile win and he beat the strongest field the race has assembled for the past 20 years.
“He’s a Queensland icon. Not just in harness racing, but in sport, too,” lAlbion Park CEO Jim Waddell said.
“To have him being talked about as the greatest (Australasian) pacer of all time is amazing.
“He’s been at the top for so long and won so many of the biggest races, it’s important to take the chance to pause and recognise that because we don’t know how much longer he will keep racing.”
Just when many were bracing themselves for Leap To Fame’s retirement after the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July, his owner Kevin Seymour hinted he could race on longer.
"I know people want to know our plans, but we genuinely don't have any locked in," he said.
"We've agreed to let the horse tell us, through his performances, when it's time to retire him.
"We would love to go back and have another crack at the NZ Cup (in November)," he said. "I know Grant (Dixon, trainer-driver) feels the same way.”
Before then, Leap To Fame will go back to NZ but to defend the crown he won so superbly in last year’s $NZ1 million Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge on April 10.
This will be his third NZ raid and he has won major races in both previous trips across the ditch.
Leap To Fame came through the powerhouse Miracle Mile win so well, Dixon opted to race him again last night to sharpen him up for Cambridge.
It means 13 days between runs, which is exactly the timeline Dixon followed to win the Cambridge feature last year.
“Everything went so well with last year’s Cambridge trip, we’re keen to do pretty much everything the same way again,” Seymour said.
After Cambridge, Leap To Fame will return to Albion Park in July to chase more history in the Inter Dominion final, which tickets go on sale for tomorrow.
Victory in the $1 million final on July 18 final would be his 16th at Group 1 level, giving Leap To Fame a share of the Australasian record with Lazarus and Westburn Grant.
PHOTO: Ross Stevenson
The three-time Australian Horse of the Year and all-time Australasian prize money record holder posted his 67th win from 86 starts.
It was his 44th win from just 50 starts at Albion Park, taking him to outright fifth on list for most wins at “The Creek” behind Destreos (73), Our Overanova (51), Nickys Falcon (47) and Colt Thirty One (44).
Racing Queensland seized the opportunity to acknowledge Leap To Fame’s amazing career, which gained another remarkable chapter with his off-the-canvas win in the $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle two weeks earlier.
It was Leap To Fame’s second Miracle Mile win and he beat the strongest field the race has assembled for the past 20 years.
“He’s a Queensland icon. Not just in harness racing, but in sport, too,” lAlbion Park CEO Jim Waddell said.
“To have him being talked about as the greatest (Australasian) pacer of all time is amazing.
“He’s been at the top for so long and won so many of the biggest races, it’s important to take the chance to pause and recognise that because we don’t know how much longer he will keep racing.”
Just when many were bracing themselves for Leap To Fame’s retirement after the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July, his owner Kevin Seymour hinted he could race on longer.
"I know people want to know our plans, but we genuinely don't have any locked in," he said.
"We've agreed to let the horse tell us, through his performances, when it's time to retire him.
"We would love to go back and have another crack at the NZ Cup (in November)," he said. "I know Grant (Dixon, trainer-driver) feels the same way.”
Before then, Leap To Fame will go back to NZ but to defend the crown he won so superbly in last year’s $NZ1 million Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge on April 10.
This will be his third NZ raid and he has won major races in both previous trips across the ditch.
Leap To Fame came through the powerhouse Miracle Mile win so well, Dixon opted to race him again last night to sharpen him up for Cambridge.
It means 13 days between runs, which is exactly the timeline Dixon followed to win the Cambridge feature last year.
“Everything went so well with last year’s Cambridge trip, we’re keen to do pretty much everything the same way again,” Seymour said.
After Cambridge, Leap To Fame will return to Albion Park in July to chase more history in the Inter Dominion final, which tickets go on sale for tomorrow.
Victory in the $1 million final on July 18 final would be his 16th at Group 1 level, giving Leap To Fame a share of the Australasian record with Lazarus and Westburn Grant.
