Never doubt a champion!
IF THE remaining doubters needed any further proof Leap To Fame is still the southern hemisphere's premier standardbred, it was delivered just moments ago.
Some began questioning Leap To Fame's status following defeats behind 'new kid on the block' - Kingman - and his stabletmate, Don Hugo, during the past three months, with most of those critics put to rest with his track record performance to capture last weekend's Ballarat Cup.
Now the stragglers have been silenced with tonight's incredible Cranbourne Cup triumph as Leap To Fame displayed the first "Core pillar of a champion"....The will over skill: While talent is a starting point, the "will" must be stronger than the skill itself.
After working hard outside Kingman, Leap To Fame appeared to be struggling at the top of the home straight as the pacemaker strode clear before his sheer will kicked in.
Digging deep into his seemingly endless supply of stamina, the son of Bettors Delight raised another effort to score by a neck from Kingman.
After trailing the frontrunner, Bulletproof Boy was five metres away third.
Taking his record to an incredible 63 wins and 16 placings from 81 starts, the Grant Dixon-trained stallion rated 1:55.1 over 2555 metres to complete a hat-trick in the Group One.
Leap To Fame's time slashed five-tenths of a second from his track record established in the 2024 Cup.
"He is just amazing...a once-in-a-lifetime horse," Dixon said. "He never stopped trying all the way down straight and I'm so proud of him.
"I wasn't even sure right on the line if he made it. I knew it was close, but I wasn't 100 per cent confident he'd gotten there until the numbers went up.
"That was another terrific run from him, but sometimes it's just a relief that he races well and gets the job done."
Thanks to his victory - which stretched his bankroll to $5,167,359, Leap To Fame remains the only pacer eligible for Harness Racing Victoria's $1million bonus.
In what can only be described as a phenomenal promotion, HRV will pay the mouth-watering sum to any pacer which captures four of the six specified Cups.
One of those wins has to be in the Hunter Cup in Melton on February 14.
Evergreen veteran Bulletproof Boy and Kingman were also eligible before tonight's defeats.
The circuit moves to Kilmore next Saturday night, with Dixon indicating Leap To Fame will continue his bid for the extra seven figures..
"The $1million bonus dream is still alive, so we'll keep chasing it," Dixon said. "At the end of the day it is why we came down here, but I've got to see how he pulls up from tonight first.
"If he is fit and well, it won't hurt him to go around again over the next two weeks.
"It's going to be super hard to do, but we'll give it our best."
