Miracle Mile back on for Leap To Fame

By Adam Hamilton 

Champion pacer Leap To Fame has forced himself back into Miracle Mile contention.

Mindful of his hectic five-race Victorian campaign, connections were leaning towards bypassing Australasia’s premier speed test to focus on next month’s Cambridge raid.

But Leap To Fame has thrived so well since returning to Team Dixon’s Queensland stables, he will be back on the road to Sydney on Tuesday for tackle one of the two Miracle Mile qualifying sprints next Saturday night.

Despite being an all-time great, Leap To Fame, like all horses, must qualify for one of just eight spots in the $1 million Miracle Mile on March 14.

Leap To Fame’s surprise inclusion will make this the best Miracle Mile in over a decade.

“He’s just done so well since getting back to Queensland (after a Victorian campaign), he’s made the decision for us,” owner Kevin Seymour said.

“Victorian trips have taken a lot out of him in the past, so we worried about him coming through five races down there and going into a Miracle Mile.

“But it’s the best he’s ever travelled. He’s bucking his brands off and we’ll head to Sydney on Tuesday.

“We’re also mindful it’s a $1 million race and this could be his last racing campaign.”

Seymour said a decision on Leap To Fame’s racing career and possible retirement to stud would be made after the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July.

Leap To Fame firmed from $6 into $3.50 equal favourite for the Miracle Mile when Seymour confirmed the Sydney trip.

Others chasing a Miracle Mile berth through the qualifiers will include Kingman, Swayzee, Don Hugo, Rakero Rocket, Captains Knock, Hi Manameisjeff and emerging Kiwi pacer Pinseeker.

The first and only horse guaranteed a run is old Victorian marvel Bulletproof Boy, who stormed home from last to win last Friday night’s $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile.

“It’s a dream come true. It’s the race I’ve always wanted to have a runner in. He ran fourth in a qualifier and just missed last year,” trainer Scott Ewen said.

Bulletproof Boy, an 11-year-old with 52 wins from 227 starts, has been a giant-killer over the past five months with wins against Leap To Fame, Kingman and Rakero Rocket.

Victorian ace James Herbertson followed his Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver win at Albion Park last weekend with a glorious drive to win on Bulletproof Boy. It was his eighth win from 18 drives on the veteran.

But Herbertson was struck down by a mystery illness after the win and his immediate future is in limbo.

The dual Australian premiership-winning driver was taken to hospital with a suspected blood clot.

“They’re not exactly sure what it is, but James will have a scan today (Sunday) to find out more,” Herbertson’s partner Ewa Justice said.

Brilliant young mare Captains Mistress stormed her way into next Saturday’s Group 1 Chariots Fire and a possible Miracle Mile start with a sparkling Paleface Adios Stakes win at Menangle last night.

It was her fifth win from as many starts since moving from NZ to Jason Grimson’s Menangle stable.

Captains Mistress is $1.30 for the Chariots Of Fire where a win would get her a golden ticket into the Miracle Mile.

Catch A Wave won the Chariots Of Fire/Miracle Mile double in 2023.

“If she wins, we’ll have a crack at the Miracle Mile. She’s something else,” Grimson said.

Grimson is chasing half the Miracle Mile field with Captains Mistress, Swayzee, Rakero Rocket, Hi Manameisjeff and Chase A Dream all genuine chances of qualifying.