Leap To Fame claims 15th Group 1 in Kilmore Cup

By Adam Hamilton 

Carter Dalgety is clear to drive NZ Horse of the Year Republican Party in next week’s $250,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup despite copping a suspension in last night’s Kilmore Cup.

Dalgety was suspended for two weeks for causing early interference in the $150,000 Group 1 race, but stewards ruled the penalty would start after the Hunter Cup.

He is considering appealing, but will likely take the penalty rather than risk it cutting into the upcoming feature races in the North Island.

Republican Party opened his Aussie campaign with a sound, but well-held second to Aussie champion Leap To Fame in last night’s Kilmore Cup.

He was crossed at the start, retook the lead and then Dalgety opted to take a sit when Leap To Fame’s trainer-driver Grant Dixon came around in search of the lead after 400m.

Leap To Fame ran uncharacteristically slow splits through the middle of the race before dashing home in a 54.9 and 27.1sec to beat Republican Party by three metres in a cosy 1min55.2sec mile rate for 2180m, a full second outside the track record.

Dalgety was pleased with Republican Party’s run given his long break between races.

“He felt awesome, but he did blow out in the last 80m or so and had a big blow after the race,” he said.

“We sort of expected that given he hadn’t raced for five weeks, so hopefully he can find another couple of lengths in fitness for next week. He’ll need to.”

Leap To Fame’s win sets up his chase for a new $1 million bonus in the Hunter Cup.

The “Summer of Glory” bonus was offered by Harness Racing Victoria for any pacer that could win four of the six Cups during the carnival, but they must include the Hunter Cup.

Winning at Kilmore qualified Leap To Fame after he had previously won the Ballarat and Cranbourne Cups.

“He’s just in a great space,” Dixon said. “He’s come to Melbourne and won big races before, but this is best we’ve had him down here for a sustained period of time.

“He’s always thrived on racing, but he is particularly well this trip.

“He had that hard run outside Kingman to win at Cranbourne last week, so when I got the chance to give him an easier run last night, I took it.

“He always felt in control and did it comfortably. Like his past few runs, he’s come through it really well, but we know next week is going to be much harder.”

While Leap To Fame beat NZ’s top pacer Republican Party last night, he will have two other Aussie superstars – Kingman and Swayzee – to contend with in the Hunter Cup. They both skipped last night after chasing home Leap To Fame at Cranbourne.

Latest markets have Leap To Fame $2 favourite for the Hunter Cup, ahead of Kingman ($3), Swayzee ($5) and Republican Party ($11). The crucial barrier draw is Tuesday morning.

Leap To Fame’s win was his 15th at Group 1 level, which took him to third on the all-time list behind only the great pair Lazarus and Westburn Grant on 16 wins.

Last night’s other feature, the Group 1 Kilmore Trotters’ Cup, was won easily by the brilliant Jilliby Ballerini, but only after a scare.

The five-year-old, who has won 14 of her past 19 starts, caused a false start at the first take of the race, but got it right the second time and led throughout to win easily.

In a blow to her chances for next Saturday night’s $250,000 Group 1 Great Southern Star, stewards placed her out of the draw. It means she will start from outside the back row.

Her stablemate Keayang Zahara is chasing a $500,000 trotting bonus in the Great Southern Star.