Leap To Fame with Blake Shinn
AFTER the Group 1 racing is over tomorrow, some of the biggest names in thoroughbred racing will “switch” codes to watch the $1 million Miracle Mile.
And it’s all because of one horse, Leap To Fame.
The Queenslander champion has blazed his way through the past four years to become the richest Australasian pacer of all time with almost $5.5 million in the bank and the promise of plenty more to come.
He’s won just about every race that matters, but it’s the way he’s done it which has captured the hearts and minds of so many outside the bubble.
Not since the days of Paleface Adios, Pure Steel, Popular Alm, Gammalite, Hondo Grattan and more recently the imposing Christian Cullen and pint-sized Courage Under Fire has a harness star transcended the sport like Leap To Fame.
John Hawkes, Blake Shinn, Tyler Schiller, Mick Price, Tony Gollan, Craig Newitt and Ben Thompson are just some thoroughbred stars to declare their adoration of Leap To Fame.
Leap To Fame, or “Larry” as he’s known around the stable, has won a staggering 65 of his 84 starts with another 14 seconds and three thirds. He’s only missed a place twice and run fourth in both those runs.
His 14 Group 1 wins have him just two behind Australasian record holders Westburn Grant and Lazarus on 16.
But it’s been the way Leap To Fame does it, more often than not having the hardest run in the race outside the leader and winning, which had stamped his greatness.
He showed it again in his Miracle Mile qualifier last Saturday night when he did all the work and looked in trouble when Chase A Dream swooped at him, but dug in to win and actually pulled away again on the line.
“Go Larry. I’m just in awe,” Shinn posted on facebook moments after the win.
Newitt tweeted: “Spinetingling how good is he! No horse past or future in my lifetime will compare with him."
Shinn, Newitt and Price were all trackside at Melton and had photos taken with Leap To Fame a few weeks back when he ran a mighty second to arch-rival and half-brother Swayzee in the Hunter Cup.
“I am just mesmerized by that horse, Leap To Fame.” Price said.
He’s already won two Inter Dominions and Leap To Fame is favourite to add a second Miracle Mile crown tonight.
That’s versatility. You couldn’t get two more different races. His Inter Dominion win last July was over 3157m and tonight’s race is just 1609m.
This is Leap To Fame’s third crack at the Miracle Mile after winning in 2024 and running a close and brave second last year.
Compare that to other champion modern day stayers Blacks A Fake and Lazarus, who couldn’t win a Miracle. Blacks A Fake had four goes for two seconds, a fifth and a seventh. Lazarus ran third and seventh in his two cracks.
Many say Leap To Fame is the best pacer Australia has seen. If he’s not, he’s at least the equal of any before him.
Given this is as strong a Miracle Mile we’ve seen for at least a decade, maybe 20 years, another win tomorrow night for Leap To Fame would surely end any debate.
It’s a debate lost on his trainer-driver Grant Dixon.
“I’m just enjoying every big race we’re in now, knowing the end may not be far away,” he said.
It’s increasingly likely this will be Leap To Fame’s last Miracle Mile and will be retired to stallion duties he chases a third Inter Dominion crown at Albion Park in July.
That makes this race even more special.
PHOTO: Stuart McCormick - Blake Shinn with Leap To Fame
