Redemption for Leap To Fame with BAF win

By Ken Warren

A deafening roar from an adoring crowd welcomed local hero Leap To Fame home to a track record-breaking victory in the Ladbrokes Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on Saturday night.

The victory served as redemption for Grant Dixon's champion five-year-old after his bid to win his home state's Grand Circuit event came unstuck last year when hampered by a flat tyre.

On that night he finished second to his half-brother Swayzee but he turned the tables in magnificent style with a stunning 7.2m victory over his sibling.

Leap To Fame had been completely dominant through the earlier weeks of the Constellations and came into the Blacks A Fake having won his last three starts including a second successive Sunshine Sprint last week.

But the inside draw threatened to derail his hopes for Blacks A Fake redemption with even his biggest fans concerned that the champ could be locked away on the pegs.

Dixon had to use all of his skill to move Leap To Fame into the running line but then the concern became just how much work he would have to do to launch his attack.

Racing three deep in the middle stages of the race, Leap To Fame eventually moved into the death seat and from there he was able to pour on the pressure in trademark style, breaking the hearts of his rivals including the chasing Swayzee for a remarkable and highly-memorable victory.

It was Leap To Fame's 11th Group 1 success and he bettered his own track record, setting a new mark for 2680m of 3:07.9.

"He's just a superstar. I'm so lucky to be associated with him," Dixon said after the race.

"The people love him. I'm just so happy for the support that he gets."

While Dixon described the early part of the race as 'messy' he had complete faith in his superstar.

"To his credit he had to do all the work and he was strong."

"He's amazing. He knows what he's got to do.

With his prizemoney now topping $3 million, an international trip could be on the agenda later in the year.

Owner Kevin Seymour said Leap To Fame's next target would be the Victoria Cup and that campaign would decide if he heads across the Tasman to tackle the New Zealand Cup in November.

The Kiwis landed the feature three-year-old double earlier on the Albion Park program with Aardie B Miki steaming home to win the Ladbrokes Queensland Oaks before Major Hot got the best of a two-horse war in the Ladbrokes Queensland Derby.

NSW filly Millwood Bliss started a hot favourite in the Oaks after her last-start victory over older rivals and led the race but couldn't hold her rivals at bay.

It was Aardie B Miki – now trained locally by Chantal Turpin and driven by Pete McMullen - who had drawn on the inside of the back row but swept home once in the clear to score 1.9m with Look Like Diamonds edging Millwood Bliss out of second spot.

It was two wins in a row for the lightly raced daughter of Always B Miki who had taken out the South East Oaks at her previous start.

Major Hot scored for the third time during his Queensland campaign when he and Victorian Bay Of Biscay paired off and drew well clear of their rivals in the home straight.

Trained by David and Stacey White, Major Hot was able to overcome the second row draw courtesy of a smart drive from Adam Sanderson and eventually outgun Bay of Biscay to win by a neck with nearly 24m to Minos in third.

London To A Brick was rewarded for some strong performances without a lot of luck through the Constellations when he won the Group 1 Pryde's Easifeed Queensland Trotters Cup.

Winner of last year's The Great Square, London To A Brick had been runner up in that same race earlier in the carnival and held off the surging finish off Adelle to score by a half head.

Leap To Fame's stablemate Fate Awaits drew a big cheer from the local crowd with his last-stride victory over previously unbeaten Victorian colt The Highlight Reel in the $500,000 Ladbrokes Protostar.

It was the first running of the $500,000 slot race for two-year-olds and Fate Awaits was able to avenge his defeat to The Highlight Reel at Melton in April for a popular local win.