Aussie News - October 6

By Adam Hamilton 

Leap To Fame is right where Grant Dixon wants him going into next Saturday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton.

After a busy week of road travel from Queensland to Victoria, Leap To Fame cruised to victory in his final lead-up race, last night’s $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint (1720m) at Melton.

His task was made much easier when Mach Dan, not Catch A Wave, led and Dixon was able to work forward and take the lead.

“It was good to get away with an easier run tonight after the work he did first-up and the trip he had this week,” Dixon said.

“He did it well and that run should top him right off for next week.”

Dixon is hoping to atone for a close third with Leap To Fame in last year’s Victoria Cup, his only attempt at the race.

Leap To Fame is into $1.60 favourite for the Cup ahead of Tuesday’s barrier draw.

X X X

Coastal Babe led a Kiwi dominance of last night’s Victoria Oaks heats at Melton.

The Steven Reid-trained filly, who is staying with Emma Stewart, led and gave nothing else a chance with a scorching 26.1sec last quarter to win her heat.

The race didn’t prove a lot given the dawdling overall time, but Coastal Babe’s gate speed and strong Kiwi form make her the testing material for the final.

The opening heat, which was nothing more than a dash home, was won by former Kiwi filly Aardie B Miki, already a winner of the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

Aardie B Miki led, dawdled and ripped home in 55.2 and 26.7sec to post her fourth win from just six starts since moving to Australia to join the Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen barn.

Like Coastal Babe, Aardie B Miki has loads of early speed, making the draw for the final so important.

X X X

Awesome Aussie three-year-old trotting filly Keayang Zahara will have just one more run before heading to New Zealand.

Fresh from her eighth win from as many starts at Melton last night, driver Jason Lee revealed Keayang Zahara would back-up in next Saturday night’s Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Oaks.

“But we’ll give the Derby a miss after that,” he said.

“We’re not worried about taking on the boys, but we are mindful of going to the well too many times before NZ.

“We’ve put her flight back a week, so she goes over on November 3 now. Getting there 10 days or so before the race (THE ASCENT) works better.

The $500,000 THE ASCENT is a new slot race part of a rejigged Show Day Twilight meeting at Addington Raceway on Friday, November 15. 

“If she comes through that run well, we’re open to staying for the (NZ) Trotting Derby as well.”

X X X

Much-travelled Kiwi horseman Stewie McDonald had his biggest win in the game at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

While McDonald has driven bigger winners, the fact he both trained and drove Madam Publisher to a brilliant $150,000 Group 1 WA Oaks win made it so extra special.

It was his first Group 1 win as both trainer and driver.

And was a typical patient McDonald drive, stalking a hot pace with the Kiwi-bred daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven before blowing them away late to win by 7.2m.

Madam Publisher has raced just 11 times for seven wins and three placings. She’s now banked $123,716.

The race was turned upside down when boom local Water Lou had to burn for the first 400m to get the lead, leaving her vulnerable. She weakened badly to finish second-last.

X X X

How many Victoria Cup runners with Jason Grimson have?

He looks a lock for at least three – Swayzee, Major Moth and District Attorney – but Nerano and Curly James must also be in contention.

Nerano strongly pushed his case with a slick free-for-all win at Menangle last night.

The seven-year-old worked to the front from a wide draw and won well in a 1min54sec mile rate for 2300m.

Curly James finished a close-up third to Leap To Fame in last night’s Smoken Up Sprint, but will likely miss the cut.

X X X

Former NZ Oaks winner Aardiebytheseaside stretched her unbeaten Aussie record to seven races at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

Back against the mares, driver Deni Roberts utilised gate four to lead and never looked in danger on her way to a 2.4m win in  slick 1min54.9sec mile rate for 2130m.

Team Bond has a plethora of options for the mare, starting with a dip into the deep end for the $450,000 Group 1 WA Pacing Cup on November 8.

Then they have a string of feature mares races, or Aardiebytheseaside could take on the likes of Never Ending and Mister Smartee in the upcoming four-year-old features, headed by the Group 1 Golden Nugget.

Team Bond and Roberts also combined to win last Friday’s free-for-all with the consistent Steel The Show, who has now won 16 races and almost $420,000.

X X X

A pair of Kiwi-breds fought out the feature trotting race at Melton last night.

Ollivici charged home to snatch victory on the line from a gallant leader, Queen Elida, in a slick 1min56.4sec mile rate for 2240m.

The time was just a second outside Majestic Man’s track record.

Queen Elida improved a mile on her previous start to lead, cop plenty of pressure, and go down by just a half neck.

Ollivici, who finished strongly from the running line, has now won 18 of his 46 starts and banked almost $280,000.

The talented Arcee Phoenix improved to finish third, while hot favourite Im Ready Jet did the work outside the leader and tired to finish sixth.

X X X

Champion trainer Emma Stewart looks set to dominate next Saturday night’s $200,000 Group 1 Victoria Derby.

Stewart snared the trifecta in the first heat when Miki To Success snatched victory on the line from leader Some American with a gallant Kingman finishing a close third after doing the work outside the leader in a quick 1min55.7sec mile rate for 2780m.

The big shock came in the second heat when last-start TAB Eureka runner-up Bay Of Biscay was rundown after leading by stablemate Best Deal.

Cam Hart dictated terms in front on Bay Of Biscay, but simply couldn’t hold-off the brilliance of Best Deal in scorching closing splits.

It was another Stewart trifecta with No Notthebuttons snaring third spot.

Bay Of Biscay’s defeat has certainly opened-up a Derby he looks to have a stranglehold on.