Aussie News - January 27
By Adam Hamilton
Leap To Fame capped his preparation for a Hunter Cup title defence with an easy Casey Classic win at Melton on Saturday night.
But a couple of classy Kiwis, Tact McLeod and Republican Party, earned plenty of respect filling the minor placings behind the Aussie champ.
Tact McLeod began brilliantly to lead and then Anthony Butt sensibly opted to take a trail on Leap To Fame, who ran a blistering 43.6sec lead time for 2240m, but steadied to a cosy 59.7sec middle half.
When the pace slowed, Carter Dalgety opted to move around the field to sit parked on Republican Party, who drew the back row, knowing the closing splits would be stunning.
Leap To Fame quickened to a 27.4sec third quarter and finished-off in 26sec flat, but Tact McLeod grabbed the eye by still pulling late ground off him to be beaten just 1.5m in a 1min52.6sec mile rate, just 1.5sec outside the track record.
Republican Party was struggling on the home bend in such closing splits, but dug in to finish a brave third, 10.1m from Leap To Fame.
“The second horse ran a great race, but my horse still felt strong on the line and I didn’t really have to ask too much of him,” Leap To Fame’s trainer-driver Grant Dixon said.
“I’m glad we had the run. He’s now got the two races under his belt going into a 2800m race next week, which is great.
“He only got down here (Melbourne) Friday morning, so I’m sure he’ll be better for the run, too.”
Tact McLeod’s effort underlined his potential, but the race also showed the vital importance of Tuesday’s barrier draw for the Hunter Cup.
Both Kiwis have gate speed, so will need to draw well to be a hope of turning the tables on Leap To Fame.
The addition of Swayzee, Don Hugo, Max Delight, Bulletproof Boy and maybe Catch A Wave and Captains Knock will make this Hunter Cup the strongest open-class feature in almost a decade.
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Amazing veteran Max Delight booked his third crack at a Hunter Cup with a terrific first-up win at Menangle on Saturday night.
Having his first run since finishing third in the Inter Dominion final on December 14, David Aiken’s nine-year-old made the most of a gun run behind leader Captains Knock and easily beat Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo, who was also first-up and had to sit parked.
Aiken confirmed Greg Sugars would take the drive on Max Delight in the Hunter Cup.
“It’s great to get a driver like Greg,” he said. “I drove him myself when we trialled super against Don Hugo a couple of weeks back, so it didn’t surprise me that he upset them last night.
“II can’t really put it down to any one thing, but he’s just a marvel. I’ve been saying for a few months now, he’s never gone better.”
Don Hugo was far from disgraced after doing the work in a 1min52.2sec mile rate for 2300m, including closing splits of 54.1 and 26.9sec.
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Inter Dominion runner-up Keayang Chucky showed he was primed for next week’s Great Southern Star with an impressive Dullard Cup win at Melton on Saturday night.
Despite drawing out the back (gate 13) and sitting back, the six-year-old sustained a booming three and four-wide run around the field to gun down leader and main danger Queen Elida and win easily in a 1min58.6sec mile rate for 2240m.
Keayang Chucky was clocked to run his last half in 55.9, including a 26.9sec last quarter.
Queen Elida was brave in defeat after driver Chris Alford opted to make a big run around the field to take the lead, but she did get some cosy splits through the middle stages.
With Just Believe and Callmethebreeze absent, next Saturday’s Great Southern Star – which consists of heats and final on the same night – takes on a very different look.
Rejuvenated Kiwi star Oscar Bonavena and The Locomotive, who beat Keayang Chucky in last month’s Inter Dominion final, look the two big guns.
The Locomotive will go into the series having not raced since that Inter Dominion win on December 14.
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There is something stunningly exciting about unbeaten Victorian three-year-old Always Hot.
Sparingly raced to win all four starts last season, the Emma Stewart-trained colt made a heck of a NSW Derby statement winning first-up in the Caduceus Club 3YO Classic at Melton.
Despite drawing wide and sitting parked, the big and raw son of Always B Miki cruised past leader and main danger Forty Love to win by 6.4m without driver Greg Sugars moving a muscle.
He clocked a remarkable 1min50.9sec mile rate for 1720m.
The clash between Always Hot and young Queensland star Fate Awaits, a stablemate of Leap To Fame, shapes as a real highlight in the NSW Derby.
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