It's all go for Larry's New Zealand Cup

By Adam Hamilton 

Leap To Fame’s New Zealand Cup raid is back on target.

Owner Kevin Seymour confirmed a much-anticipated blood test came back all-clear today.

“It’s a huge weight off our shoulders. It’s been a stressful few days,” he said.

“The blood test was the missing piece. Grant (Dixon) couldn’t fault the horse, but we simply wouldn’t travel with him unless his bloods were good.

“They came back at lunchtime and it was great news. We’re full steam ahead again now.”

The pleasing blood results capped a big day for Leap To Fame, aka "Larry", who worked strongly with fellow NZ-bound stablemate Aroda at Menangle this morning.

“Grant said his work was fantastic. That gave us more confidence the blood tests would be good,” Seymour said.

“The horse has just seemed so well in himself and as Grant said, had he not taken that blood test on Saturday, purely as a precaution, the horse would already have been in NZ.”

Leap To Fame will still face a daunting travel schedule, leaving Sydney for Auckland on Sunday and then getting another flight from Auckland to Christchurch.

“It’s not ideal, but he’s a sensible horse and seasoned traveller,” Dixon said.

Aroda will accompany Leap To Fame across and Dixon hopes he will make the cut for a Cup start.