Leap To Fame set for rare driver switch
By Adam Hamilton
Champion pacer Leap To Fame will have a different driver for just the second time in his record-breaking 94-start career at Albion Park on Saturday night.
In a fitting move, co-trainer Trista Dixon will take the reins instead of husband Grant in the Wolf Signs Open Pace over 2138m.
It’s the first time anyone but Grant has driven the 16-time Group 1 winner since Robbie Morris finished a luckless fourth on him way back on October 5, 2021 in a heat of the NSW Breeders Challenge two-year-old series.
Trista will be trying to become the only other driver to win on the champ.
She is no stranger to the sulky, having driven 435 winners, including Fate Awaits to win the Group 1 Rising Sun last year.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do because Trista does so much of the work with him and knows him as well as I do,” Grant said.
“The horse loves her and she loves him. She can be out of sight and call his name and he pricks his ears and starts looking for her.
“She’s driven him so many times at home, but never in a race or trial. I’ve always wanted to find the right opportunity for Trista to experience driving him in a race and hopefully get a win.”
Trista said she couldn’t wait for the race.
“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse and to get to drive him in a race will be incredible. He’s been such a huge part of our lives for more than five years now,” Trista said.
Owner Kevin Seymour didn’t hesitate to support the switch.
“Trista is an outstanding horse person and anyone close to the horse knows the enormous role she’s played with him, right through his career,” Seymour said.
“It’s a team effort in every way with Grant and Trista and it just seems right for her to get the chance to drive him at the races.”
Leap To Fame is on the quick back-up after returning from a spell with a blistering 1660m win at Albion Park last Saturday night.
“He had to do it the hard way but won well and really pleased us how he came through it,” Grant said.
“It’s important for him to go around this week and stretch from the 1660m to 2138m as we prepare for another go at the NZ Cup.
“That way, he can skip next week and go around again on the 17th (of October). He may have another run after that before the flight to NZ (from Sydney) on Melbourne Cup Day (November 3).
“The more racing the better, going towards one of the hardest and most gruelling races in the NZ Cup.
"He’s shown many times how much he thrives on regular racing.”
The NZ Cup is one of the key targets in Leap To Fame’s last campaign of racing. He will be retired to stud duties after the Brisbane Inter Dominion next July.
“We’re dreading the day he leaves the place to go to stud. It’s not just what he does at the races, but how fantastic he is to have around the place,” Grant said.
