Leap To Fame and Gus continue winning ways

By Adam Hamilton 

The stars of next month’s Brisbane Inter Dominion shone brightly in their final lead-up races at Albion Park last night.

Leap To Fame, chasing a third Inter Dominion crown, beat Queensland’s other top pacer The Janitor, albeit only narrowly in a 2138m free-for-all while The Janitor’s star stablemate, Gus, who is a commanding favourite for the trotting final, resumed from a spell with an arrogant win in a small trotting free-for-all.

Speculation of another war between Leap To Fame and The Janitor was quashed when driver Pete McMullen pushed forward to take the lead on The Janitor, but was content to take a sit on Leap To Fame when Grant Dixon surged forward.

The tempo was solid through a 56.9sec first half, but Leap To Fame still kept plenty in the tank for closing splits of 54.1 and 26.4sec.

The Janitor closed strongly along the sprint lane, but could only get within a neck in a 1min51.6sec mile rate for 2138m.

Connections of both stars would have been delighted with their runs.

It really served to whet the appetite for next month.

The other eye-catcher of the race was Jason Grimson’s recent stable addition, Minos, who led early before being shuffled to three pegs.

In a slick 26.4sec last quarter, Minos pulled plenty of ground off the first two superstars to finish a close third.

Gus was never out of second gear in winning his first start since finishing third to champion mare Keayang Zahara in the TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 10.

The big watch was gate one for the one-time risky mobile start beginner, but Pete McMullen took the conservative option and just nursed the gelding at the start.

Gus was headed off by Sheza Chance before McMullen came off his back and re-took the lead.

Gus cruised through a 59.7sec first half before scorching home in 55.7 and 27.4sec.

McMullen was keen to give him a solid hit-out, so let him slide clear to win by 13.9m.

All focus is now on the opening round of Inter Dominion heats on July 4.

The $1 million pacing final and $500,000 trotting final are on July 18.

Leap To Fame is $1.50 for the pacing final ahead of The Janitor at $5.

With Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini missing, Gus is $1.60 to win the trotting final.