Forget the barrier that no horse had been able to win from. And forget that the distance may have been short of Leap to Fame’s best.
And forget that he wasn’t too keen on being kept in the Retention Barn for two days as well.
Leap To Fame proved he was easily the best pacer in Australasia with a commanding victory in the $1m Garrards Miracle Mile on Saturday night at Menangle.
The Queensland horse became the second horse to win harness racing’s big treble, the Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile – Preux Chevalier was the first to achieve it in 1985.
Leap To Fame showed his true championship qualities as the Grant and Trista Dixon pacer raced without cover for the entire journey and still carried too many guns for Sooner The Bettor (Gavin Fitzpatrick) and Speak The Truth (Adam Sanderson).
He rated a slashing 1:48.2 for the mile and as his co-owner, Queensland businessman Kevin Seymour said afterwards: “This proves once and for all that he is a champion.”
As usual there was some drama in the race when the horse tipped to lead the Miracle Mile, Hi Manameisjeff, galloped as they passed the post the first time.
That left the way clear for Leap to Fame to get to the death chair outside the leader, fellow Queenslander Speak The Truth.
And although he was travelling so well on the turn, Grant Dixon said he also knew the horse on his back Sooner The Bettor was also travelling well and would be a definite threat.
“I am just so rapt for the horse,” Dixon said when he returned to the cheers of a massive Menangle crowd.
“He did it tough but when he had to, he put his head down and got the job done.
“Certainly, when Hi Manameisjeff galloped it changed the whole complexion of the race.
“Robbie [Morris] has been giving me pep talks all week on what we had to do.
“At the top of the straight I was happy with how we were travelling but the one on my back still had me worried.
“Racing this horse has been the best part of my career and being with Trista has been the best part of my life.
“And to have them all here tonight to witness this is just super.”
