Leap To Fame Chases Miracle Mile Berth at Newcastle

22 February 2024

First home in Friday night’s $100,000 Newcastle Mile will earn a place in next month's Miracle Mile at Menangle and Leap To Fame will be heavily favoured to extend a winning streak that includes major victories in the Inter Dominion and A. G. Hunter Cup.

The form of Leap To Fame speaks for itself, scoring a ninth successive win when claiming the Cranbourne Cup last start, adding to a campaign that has secured his place at the top of the tree of Australian harness racing.

A drop back in distance could be one point of vulnerability for the five-year-old seeing as his last defeat came over the shorter trip in the Be Good Johnny Sprint in Brisbane back in November but on that occasion, he was locked away from a second-row draw.

With room to roll forward on Friday night he can make his own luck and is sure to be strong at the end as always.

Sydney newcomer Hot And Treacherous provides some interesting opposition in his second start since joining Jason Grimson’s stable.

He was formerly trained in Brisbane where he was a semi-regular rival for Leap to Fame and while he wasn't able to match him, he produced some strong performances, highlighted by placings in the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks a Fake last year, both times chasing Leap To Fame home.

He should be improved by a resuming win at Menangle last week and while the draw outside of Leap To Fame won't make it easy to topple the champ he can certainly make a race of it.

Mach Da Vinci deserves respect following a resurgent campaign and he wouldn't be out of place in a Miracle Mile.

His last two wins at Menangle have been from the extreme outside barrier so drawn inside the two big guns he can be in the action.

Inter Dominion Consolation winner Cantfindabettorman is a little below the top level but many of his recent outings have come from wide or second row draws.

He starts much closer to the pegs on Friday and that brings him into contention for the trifecta.

Max Delight looks hampered by a wide barrier but he is going as well as ever with placings behind Leap To Fame at his last two starts in the Hunter and Cranbourne cups. He deserves respect.

To view the Racing and Sports formguide for Newcastle’s meeting on Friday, CLICK HERE.