Leap to Fame Photo by Megan Liefting
CHAMPION pacer Leap To Fame is poised to clash with one of his major Inter Dominion rivals in a entrée to the iconic series at Albion Park on Friday night.
Fellow Queenslander The Janitor, second favourite for the $1 million Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 18, is set to be one of a select few rivals to take on Leap To Fame in a 2138m free-for-all at Albion Park on Friday.
It will be a crucial final lead-up race before the opening round of Inter Dominion heats 15 days later (July 4).
The Janitor has raced just this preparation for an easy Albion Park win on May 30.
Leap To Fame’s only run since a break was a slick Albion Park win last Saturday week.
The pair famously delivered a Queensland quinella in the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 14.
The Janitor stormed home to head Leap To Fame in the straight before the champ kicked-back and won by a half neck.
Back in December, Leap To Fame also only narrowly beat home The Janitor in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park.
Leap To Fame is $1.50 pre-post favourite to win a third Inter Dominion crown on July 18. The Janitor is $5 second favourite.
“Hopefully there will come a time when we can beat him (Leap To Fame),” said The Janitor’s driver Pete McMullen.
“I thought we had him for a few strides in that Miracle Mile, but then he kicked back like champions do.
“I’m a huge fan of Leap To Fame, maybe his biggest fan. I’ve raced against him so many times with so many different horses and seen firsthand how great he is.
“If we’re going to beat him, we’ll need everything to go right and the right luck when it matters.
“We’ve gotten close a couple of times, but getting close and actually beating him are different things.”
McMullen and his wife, Chantal Turpin, are massive players in the Inter Dominion with dominant favourite Gus in the trotting series.
Gus is also expected to have his final lead-up run at Albion Park on Friday night.
He hasn’t raced since a terrific third to glamour mares Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini in the huge TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 10.
But Gus smashed the clock with a 25.9sec closing quarter to win an Albion Park trial two weeks ago.
And he won’t have Keayang Zahara or Jilliby Ballerini to contend with in Brisbane.
Keayang Zahara is out spelling, while Jilliby Ballerini was scratched from the series with a hoof issue last Friday.
Top Victorian trainer Chris Svanosio, who won last year’s Brisbane Inter Dominion trotting final with Arcee Phoenix, will return in force.
Arcee Phoenix will be back to defend his crown with several stablemates, headed by last night’s impressive Melton winner Lovemeto.
PHOTO: HRNZ/Race Images NZ
