PHOTO: Pacepix/Club Menangle
While the disappointment of Leap To Fame’s withdrawal from the $1mil The Race By Grins stings, New Zealanders may still get a look at him this year.
Owner Kevin Seymour confirmed today Leap To Fame would go for a break rather than travel to Cambridge for the April 12 slot race.
“He had an extremely tough run last Saturday night. It was a gruelling mile and he went flat out,” Seymour said. “He was still a bit flat today, so he won’t be going to NZ.
“It’s all about what’s best for the horse and protecting the longevity of his career at the top level. We want to race him on for another couple of years, not be a one-season wonder.
“Grant (Dixon, trainer-driver) and I feel it’s best that he has a break now and gets ready for the big Queensland races in winter. If he doesn’t have a break now, there’s not many other windows to get one for the rest of the year.
“We’d have loved to go and chance the Kiwi dollars and we’re very keen to have a crack at these slot races, but now’s not the time. The horse has and always will come first.”
Ironically, missing the The Race By Grins improves the prospects of Leap To Fame chasing the New Zealand Cup at Addington in November.
“Yes, it’s something Grant and I have spoken about a few times,” Seymour revealed. “It’s on our Bucket List.
“I’m not going to come out and say it’s a target yet, but it’s something we will look seriously at.
“For now, it’s about giving him a break and seeing how he comes back for the big winter races.
“We’ll nominate him for the NZ Cup, but probably won’t make a final call until after the Victoria Cup in early October.
“It’s one thing to have races in mind, but there’s always a big element of taking them one at a time, especially with a horse like him.
“We’ve also got the Inter Dominion in Sydney we’re keen to go to, obviously after he won so well in the Brisbane final late last year.”
Leap To Fame moved to eighth spot on the all-time Australasian prize money list with his historic Miracle Mile last Saturday night.
The five-year-old has raced 45 times for 35 wins, eight placings and banked $2,765,957. - Adam Hamilton
