Leap to Fame, the prime pacer owned by a New Farm property tycoon, has once again beaten the best harness racers in the southern hemisphere to win the $NZ1 Million Race at Cambridge in March.
“He won sensationally,” as owner Kevin Seymour put it.
For the flight to New Zealand’s North Island, the champion was accompanied by his steadfast, high-flying stablemate Alfie the Shetland pony.
“So, Alfie now with these three trips to New Zealand and three trips in Australia on planes, would have to be the highest frequent flyer in Australasia for a pony,” Seymour said.
He explained that Alfie keeps “Larry”, as Leap to Fame is known by the Seymours and his dual trainer and rider Grant Dixon, calm and settled while travelling.
Larry’s most recent placing brings his total winnings to $6.8 million.
“Right now, he’s recognised as being the best horse in the world; there’s no horse in America or in New Zealand that’s ever won anywhere near $6.8 million,” Seymour said.
“A good horse in America will win $2 or 3 million.”
Harness racing observers have said no other horse has ever won so convincingly – by a whole seven lengths.
Even by Larry’s standards, this performance was a standout. While he tends to get up the front early and stay there, Seymour said he doesn’t usually win by anywhere near that margin.
At seven years old, Larry is currently in his prime years. Seymour has postponed plans to put him out to stud, saying that while he’s “getting better with every start”, he’ll keep racing.
Though Seymour has landed the pacer of a lifetime, it’s taken him 50 years to find one.
“A lot of people go through a lifetime and never get a really good horse. We were just lucky we fluked the right one,” he said.
If it’s a numbers game, Seymour has boosted his odds, with 40 horses under training and about 120 horses on his farm at Biddeston, near Toowoomba.
Larry and Alfie, however, live with Dixon and his family at Mount Tambourine.
“Grant won’t let him out of his sight,” Seymour said.
Leap to Fame will make an appearance in Albion for the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion Championship in July.
Jim Waddell, Albion Park Harness Racing Club CEO, said the inter dominion will be “something spectacular”.
“Leap to Fame’s dominance hasn’t just captured victories, it has reignited the passion of this sport of harness racing,” Waddell said.
“The fact that he is a local hero, owned and trained here in Queensland, sets the tone for a truly unforgettable series.
“Leap to Fame will be aiming to equal the Australasian Group 1 record when he steps out at Albion Park in July.
“The greats, Westburn Grant and Lazarus, will have a new partner at the pinnacle of the sport and who knows, maybe Leap to Fame grabs the crown for himself later in the year. What a time to be involved in harness racing…” he said.
The championship will be hosted by The Creek at Albion Park from July 4 – 18, with the Inter Dominion Pacing and Trotting Grand Finals on July 18.
For tickets, visit thecreek.com.au/interdominion/hospitality-tickets.
