Queensland superstars set to storm New Zealand after Miracle Mile domination

18 March 2026

Now the pair are first and second favourites for the $NZ1 million The Race at Cambridge in NZ’s North Island on April 10.

Leap To Fame will return to defend the crown he won last year with one of the most dominant displays of his stellar career.

And The Janitor, who was bought from NZ, will return to his homeland for the first time since becoming a star for Queensland trainers Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen.

The Janitor will be the advance party, arriving in Cambridge early to have a lead-up race in the $NZ60,000 Waikato Flying Mile on April 2.

“This is actually the race we’ve set him for … the Miracle Mile was a bit of a surprise because we actually took him to Sydney to tackle the consolation (of the Miracle Mile) as part of his build-up for NZ,” McMullen said.

“But then he came out and won his qualifier (of the Miracle Mile) and then ran second in the Mile itself.

“He’s a horse we’ve always had a huge opinion of and it’s all starting to come together for him.

“I thought he was going to beat Leap To Fame the other night, but he got to him and he (Leap To Fame) kicked back again.

“It was a huge run from our guy to come from a long way back, out wide and get to so close.

“The way he’s come back, hopefully this will be his season.”

With the growing possibility Leap To Fame could be retired after July’s Brisbane Inter Dominion, The Janitor is Queensland’s pin-up pacer in waiting.

Turpin confirmed stablemate Gus, one of Australasia’s best trotters, would accompany The Janitor to Cambridge. His target is the $NZ530,000 Trot Slot on April 10.

“He and The Janitor will have lead-up runs at Cambridge the week before,” she said.

In contrast, Leap To Fame will go straight into The Race without another lead-up run.

“He may not even have a trial, we can get him really ready at home,” co-trainer Trista Dixon said. “We’re keen to follow what we did last year and just do a hit-and-run for the big race.

“He absolutely thrived over there last year and came home in great order.

“We’re waiting to confirm it, but he’ll fly to Auckland on Easter Saturday or Sunday. That flight goes from Sydney, so we’ll have to road him from home (Tambourine) to Sydney for it.”

Leap To Fame underlined why most rate him Australia’s all-time greatest pacer when he lifted off the canvas to beat The Janitor and win his second Miracle Mile last Saturday night.

He has banked almost $5.8 million with 66 wins from 85 starts and only finished worse than second on five occasions.

Beyond Cambridge, Leap To Fame will chase a third Inter Dominion crown at Albion Park in July.

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