by Adam Hamilton

The stage was set and Leap To Fame seized it in the most glorious and dominant style.

Champions defy logic and history and that’s exactly what Leap To Fame did winning the $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle on Saturday night (March 9).

There is a strong argument to say he is the best pacer in the world right now.

The 5-year-old son of Bettors Delight became the first horse in Miracle Mile history to win from wider than post position 6. He started second from the outside (post 7).

Leap To Fame also became just the second horse in history to complete Australia’s Triple Crown — the Inter Dominion pacing final, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile — in the one campaign. The only previous was the mighty Preux Chevalier 39 years ago.

And he did all this after enduring, by far, the hardest trip in the race, sitting in the ‘death seat’ (outside the leader) for the entire race.

Such was the enormity of the challenge, it was the first time in almost 20 months — and only the third time in his 45-start career — Leap To Fame did not start as the favorite. Remarkably, he paid $4 (for a $1 bet).

The win was universally considered one of the greatest in the 57-year history of the Miracle Mile.

It moved owner Kevin Seymour, one of the greatest contributors to Australian harness racing on every level and a notoriously tough marker on horses, to call Leap To Fame a champion.

“I’ve reserved my judgement until now, tonight he proved he’s a champion by sitting in the ‘death [seat]’ in such quick time and winning,” he said.

Leap To Fame’s 1:48.3 mile was the fourth fastest Miracle Mile of all time.

“I can’t believe he could sit parked in the ‘death’ and beat such a great field,” Seymour said. “I’m just so proud and it goes to show I do believe in miracles. It’s also my first Miracle Mile win after more than 50 years in the game. It’s the one big race to escape me and now we’ve got it and he’s done it by completing the Triple Crown, which is the icing on the cake.”

Trainer/driver Grant Dixon, who handled the pacer masterfully, oozed as much pride as he did excitement after the win.

“I’m so rapt for the horse, he really deserved that,” Dixon said. “That other horse [Sooner The Bettor] had a much softer run and really came at him, but he put his head down and wanted to get to the line.

“This horse has given me the best part of my career and Trista [Dixon, wife] is the best part of my life, so to have her and the kids here is just so special.”

There were some magical scenes and Trista and their children greeted Dixon on the track moments after the win.

Seymour and Dixon have been very giving of Leap To Fame, especially with recent races at regional tracks like Cranbourne in Victoria and Newcastle in New South Wales.

It was somewhat deliberate and Seymour especially has put a premium on Leap To Fame being a vehicle to promote harness racing and draw new fans.

“Harness racing needs another champion to follow and get excited about, even to fall in love with,” Seymour said. “We love the fact he’s become a people’s horse and hopefully that continues to grow. It’s why when I asked for tenders for which slot we would partner with for his next big race in NZ, I told them I would put a premium on how they would promote the horse, the race and the sport as a whole.”

That race is the $1 million Race By Grins at Cambridge in New Zealand’s North Island on April 12.

It will be Leap To Fame’s first race outside of Australia and showcase him to a new, very passionate harness racing country.

Dixon said the massive following Leap To Fame has grown added to the jot of his success.

“So many people love the horse and come up asking to get photos of him or with him,” Dixon said. “It’s great to be part of it.”

Leap To Fame’s win took his record to an amazing 45 starts with 35 wins, six seconds, two thirds and earnings of $2,765,957.

Just over two months into his 5-year-old season, Leap To Fame is already eighth on the Australasian prize money list for pacers.

Still to come this year, he has races like the $1mil Race By Grins, $350,000 Blacks A Fake, the $500,000 Inter Dominion and possibly even the $750,000 NZ Cup in there somewhere, too.

If he stays sound, and races on for a couple more years as planned, Leap To Fame will get his chance to overtake his remarkable fellow Queenslander, Blacks A Fake, who is the richest Down Under pacer of all-time with $4,575,438.

CALLMETHEBREEZE STRONG IN GROUP 1 HAMMERHEAD TROTTERS’ MILE

Former European trotter Callmethebreeze continues to make waves Down Under.

The French-bred entire thrashed his rivals in last night’s $100,000 Group 1 Hammerhead Trotters’ Mile at Menangle.

It was his third win from just five starts since being bought by leviathan Aussie owner/breeder Pat Driscoll through his Haras de Trotteurs and Yabby Dams operations.

Callmethebreeze has already done what no other Down Under trotter has done in the past six months, beating champion Just Believe, which he did in the Group 1 Great Southern Star final at Melton last month.

He suffered a shocking defeat after leading, pulling hard and cutting off his wind in the Group 1 Grand Prix at Melton in between the Great Southern Star and last night.

“We’re all still learning about him, but the master [trainer Anton Golino] knows what to do,” driver Nathan Jack said. “We changed a few things and he was great tonight, so relaxed in front. He actually waited a bit for them at the top of the [home] straight, so he might need a pair of pull-ups or something at some stage, but I’m happy when he’s relaxed.

“I’ve fallen in love with him. Look at him, he’s easy to fall in love with.”

Jack is counting down the days until he heads to New Zealand for the next major target, the inaugural $575,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge in NZ’s North Island on April 12.

“Can’t wait,” he said. “What a race it’s shaping to be. I’m sure he’ll be very hard to beat again if he gets a good draw.”

Jack knows that means taking on Just Believe again.

“As I’ve said, I’m not scared of Just Believe, but I certainly respect him,” he said. “We’ve beaten him once before and can do it again if this horse is at his top and gets a good draw.

“I’m really excited about this horse and that [NZ] race.”

Callmethebreeze trotted a 1:53.1 mile last night, but it was his closing splits which really turned heads.

The son of Trixton blasted home in :54.4 and :26.8.