Leap To Fame on track for career-defining Hunter Cup win

By Adam Hamilton

This is Leap To Fame's greatest stage yet.

For all his amazing deeds and heroics over the past three years, victory as a seven-year-old in Saturday night's Group 1 Hunter Cup, against the best field he faced, would surely top the lot.

Leap To Fame has to overcome the two horses – Kingman and Swayzee – who have challenged him more than any others in his stellar career.

Kingman boasts a 3-2 record against Leap To Fame, but the champ has turned that around, winning the past two.

Swayzee has twice beaten Leap To Fame, most famously in last year's Hunter Cup when he led.

The way the barriers have fallen – Swayzee in two and Leap To Fame six – the same scenario is likely again.

Is Swayzee as good as he was last year when he obliterated the track record?

Is Leap To Fame as good or better than last year, even in the twilight of his career?

Kingman (gate 10) and NZ's Horse of the Year, Republican Party, will be stalking them both.

Kingman was simply too good for Leap To Fame in the Victoria and NZ Cups late last year. He also led throughout to beat him in last month's Shepparton Cup.

But Leap To Fame's trainer-driver Grant Dixon says his star has thrived and improved with each run during this Summer of Glory.

Most horses would be gasping after four big runs in as many weeks, but Dixon says Leap To Fame is itching for his next stoush.

And it's his biggest yet.

Leap To Fame is already by far the richest all-time pacer in this part of the world with more than $5.25 million in prizemoney.

He can bank another $1,142,500 – including a $1 million bonus – if he wins this Hunter Cup. Strangely, thought, the bonus wouldn't count in his official prize money.

Victory would be his 16th at Group 1 level, equalling the mark of former greats Westburn Grant and Lazarus for the most Group 1 wins by an Australasian pacer.

There have been many greats come before Leap To Fame. The likes of Blacks A Fake, Lazarus, Im Themightyquinn, Popular Alm and Preux Chevalier to name a few.

But Leap To Fame's record, longevity, feature race success and powerhouse style put him alongside any of them.

Remember, he won his first Group 1 way back on March 5, 2022 in the NSW Derby.

And he's won so many of his races the hard way, sitting outside the leader.

If "Larry", as he's known around the stables, can add this Hunter Cup, it's hard to argue he's not the best of the lot.

Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.