Grant Dixon Sends Leap To Fame Into Menangle Miracle Mile Qualifier

Trainer-driver Grant Dixon and owners have committed Leap To Fame to one of the two Miracle Mile qualifying races at Menangle, and connections travelled to Sydney on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s qualifiers, owner Kevin Seymour said. Seymour added the horse “has just done so well since getting back to Queensland (after a Victorian campaign), he’s made the decision for us,” and that “it’s the best he’s ever travelled. He’s bucking his brands off and we’ll head to Sydney on Tuesday.” Leap To Fame must secure one of eight starting positions in the $1 million Miracle Mile.

Leap To Fame’s record and honours underline the stakes: foaled 5 November 2018, by Bettor’s Delight out of Lettucereason, the stallion carries a reported record of 73 starts for 58 wins, 10 seconds and 3 thirds and was twice named Australian Harness Horse of the Year in 2023 and 2024. Notable wins listed in the horse’s dossier include the A G Hunter Cup (G1) on 3 February 2024, the Miracle Mile Pace (G1) on 9 March 2024, and the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship (G1) on 19 July 2025; a Miracle Mile line from 8 March 2025 shows Leap To Fame placed second to Don Hugo that day.

The qualifying picture around Menangle is muddied by conflicting accounts of the Newcastle Mile qualifier. One report identifies veteran Bulletproof Boy as the horse that “stormed home from last to win last Friday night’s $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile,” a performance that claimant reports say has guaranteed Bulletproof Boy a Miracle Mile start; that report notes Bulletproof Boy is an 11-year-old with 52 wins from 227 starts and quotes trainer Scott Ewen saying, “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.” Another account explicitly states Leap To Fame “was first to book his Miracle Mile spot by winning last Friday’s (Feb. 21) Newcastle Mile.” Those versions cannot both be true, leaving the guaranteed-spot picture unresolved until official Newcastle Mile results are confirmed.

Market reaction followed Dixon’s confirmation: Leap To Fame firmed from $6 into $3.50 as an equal favourite for the Miracle Mile when connections confirmed the Sydney trip. Named rivals lining up through the Menangle qualifiers include Don Hugo, Kingman, Swayzee, Rakero Rocket, Captains Knock, Hi Manameisjeff and emerging New Zealand pacer Pinseeker, meaning Leap To Fame will face a compact, high-quality field for the eight available berths.

Movements elsewhere are reshaping targets. Tim Bunning’s syndicate has declined a Miracle Mile invitation to prioritise the $2.1 million TAB Eureka at Menangle, with Bunning saying, “After much deliberation, we’ve taken the advice of Emma [Stewart] and Clayton [Tonkin] and decided to decline the [Miracle Mile] invitation. It’s great to have teamed with Rob [Watson] and have a Eureka slot locked-in so early, so that will be our big focus now.” Meanwhile Bay Of Biscay posted a 1:49.1 mile with a :53.4 last 800 metres and was revealed as the first confirmed TAB Eureka slot, driver Cam Hart noting the horse “is a powerhouse” after the run.

With the qualifiers run over a single night and only eight starting spots in the Miracle Mile, Leap To Fame’s travel, condition and draw will be decisive. Connections have signalled confidence in the horse’s recovery from a heavy Victorian campaign — Seymour specifically referenced “coming through five races down there” — but the unresolved Newcastle Mile reporting and the pending Menangle draw leave operational questions for trainers, bettors and race officials as the Miracle Mile field takes shape.