Spotlight On: Leap To Fame

July is THE month, and the Queensland Constellations has quickly become THE biggest carnival on the harness racing calendar.

All the great equine stars, the trainers and drivers vying for supremacy across both gaits, pacing and the bulked-up trotting which ultimately has them chasing the rich prizemoney and glory that comes with it. All the while, bathed in typical brilliant warm sunshine.

It’s impossible to ignore!

The brightest star in the sport resides in Queensland and is named Leap To Fame aka Larry.

The hulking entire has taken all before him during the past year with victories including the clean sweep of the Inter Dominion series at Albion Park, Miracle Mile, Hunter, Cranbourne, and Queensland Cups.

His footprint on the industry right now is so big, you need a packed lunch to fully grasp it.

But it was 12 months ago that he totally exploded onto the national stage. His three-year-old season was breathtaking, culminating in three Derby classics amongst other features.

But his profile went to a whole other level following his efforts last year at Albion Park and Redcliffe in the winter.

The head-spinning victory at Redcliffe in the Patrons Purse in which he obliterated the 2280m track record set the tone for the remainder of the Constellations.

His demolition of rivals in the Rising Sun was matched by his breathtaking victory a week later in the Sunshine Sprint.

But in the race named after the greatest champion of all-time, the Blacks A Fake (another Queenslander), the pinnacle event in the Sunshine State, he came up short when beaten into second placing by his older half-brother Swayzee.

As we now know, a flat tyre to Leap To Fame proved to be the difference between winning and losing, and the massive and adoring crowd that was on-hand were left gobsmacked.

Ever since last year’s heroics during the Constellations, Larry has quite deservedly become the talk of the town – across all three racing codes!

Since that defeat on July 22 last year, the final night of the 2023 Constellations, Larry has marched to the beat of his own drum winning 17 of his next 21 starts including a win streak of 13 races.

His four defeats came via the Victoria Cup (third behind Act Now), Eureka (second to Encipher), Be Good Johnny Sprint (fourth behind Future Assured), and Patrons Purse (second behind District Attorney).

The management of Leap To Fame during this stretch by his most trusted confidants, Grant and Trista Dixon, has been nothing short of sensational.

So, is the Blacks A Fake the jewel in the crown for Leap To Fame in 2024 Constellations?

Is victory about redemption or more about righting the wrong?

“That defeat last year was deflating, take nothing away from the winner but the tyre wrapped around the entire wheel and was, therefore, acting like a brake. Grant was doing everything in his power to offset the issue. That’s racing and yes, it was disappointing for the horse, but we move on,” co-owner Kevin Seymour said.

 “He’s done extremely well since that defeat and we’re very much looking forward to the Constellations this year, you could say we’ve got unfinished business.”

With overall earnings just shy of $3 million and over $1 million earned this year in eleven starts to date, Leap To Fame is looking to smash through several barriers throughout his home state carnival.

“Wouldn’t that be something? It makes Kay and myself feel extremely proud and he’s taken us on a magnificent journey to date. He’s got an unbelievable following but right here in Queensland, quite overwhelming really,” Kevin said.

“Like many, he makes Kay and I sit on the edge of our seat when he races. He’s re-writing the record books and we’ve been involved in this industry for over 50 years.

“We now worry all the time about his next defeat because you don’t want to let the public down. I suppose it’s an in-built fear when racing such a high-profile horse.”

His rivals this year will include Swayzee, a winner of the New Zealand Cup following his Blacks A Fake triumph last year while he was third behind Leap To Fame and Better Eclipse (Auckland Cup winner since) in the Inter Dominion Grand Final back in December.

The Jason Grimson trainee resumed with a strong victory at Menangle on May 25; his first outing since his Inter Dominion placing.

An interesting rival for both Leap To Fame and Swayzee could be the super talented mare Aardies Express, a winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II (Ladyship Mile) at Menangle on May 4 and a winner of the 

Raced by Canadian-based owner Mike Tanev, Aardies Express, a five-year-old, has had two wins at Menangle since coming across from the stables of Stonewall Stud and Steve Telfer.

Will something stand up and make a race of it with Leap To Fame or will his dominance continue?

Since 2000, pacers that have completed the Sunshine Sprint/Blacks A Fake double in the same year includes Hectorjayjay (2017), Im Themightyquinn (2014), Blacks A Fake (2007), Sokyola (2003), Double Identity (2002) and Persistency (2000).

The Group 1 $200,000 Sunshine Sprint will be held this Saturday, while the Group 1 $400,000 Blacks A Fake will be staged the following week.

The 2024 Constellations shapes as the deepest ever carnival staged in Queensland with all age groups catered for plus several new features including the richest two-year-old event on the calendar, the Listed $500,000 Ladbrokes Protostar, a slot style event which will be staged on the same night as the Blacks A Fake.

Stars aplenty.

But who will shine the brightest?