It's on - Leap To Fame vs Captains Mistress

By Adam Hamilton 

The biggest rematch in racing is set for Friday in Christchurch.

Round three between two of the world’s best pacers, Leap To Fame and Captains Mistress, will come in the Group 1 NZ Pacing free-for-all.

Anticipation is off the charts with the scoreline at 1-1.

Leap To Fame fans were left craving revenge after Captains Mistress upstaged him and levelled the scoreline in the Brisbane Inter Dominion final on July 18.

Both have been unbeaten since.

Leap To Fame won four lead-up races in Brisbane before his record-breaking win in yesterday’s NZ Cup.

He became the first horse to win Down Under’s four biggest races – NZ Cup, Inter Dominion, Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile – and his 17th Group 1 eclipsed the Australasian record of 16 he held jointly with greats Lazarus and Westburn Grant.

Captains Mistress won a Menangle race first-up, added the Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 17 and then demolished her rivals in last Monday week’s Kaikoura Cup.

She was always heading to Friday’s race, but the burning question was whether Leap To Fame would back up just three days after doing all the work to win the most gruelling race on the calendar.

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon answered that emphatically today.

“He’s pulled-up good and we’re heading there (Friday’s race) at this stage,” he said.

Earlier, Dixon had dismissed talk he would avoid a clash with Captains Mistress in a race that suits her better, at least on paper.

She goes into it fresh and it’s a mobile start sprint race (1980m), which is perfect for her.

“Really? No, he’s here, the flight home isn’t until Monday and he’ll run if we’re happy with him,” he said.

“I agree the race suits her well, though. She’s just got the edge on us with her gate speed if she draws well.

“It won’t be easy, but it’s been the same with so many of Larry’s races.”

Captains Mistress’ driver Cam Hart welcomed the challenge.

“That’s great he’s going to back-up,” he said. “These are the races everyone wants. As a driver, they’re the races you dream of driving in and the fans love them.

“It was scary how good she felt at Kaikoura, so she’s right at the top of her game.”

While Hart tried unsuccessfully to lead throughout on Swayzee and beat Leap To Fame yesterday, he is a lot more bullish with Captains Mistress.

“The old boy (Swayzee) was brave and only beaten a length, but probably just below his best,” he said.

“She (Captains Mistress) is better than ever, right in her prime and will be so hard to beat.”