It was the biggest upset in Victorian harness racing for 25 years and has given a real twist to next Saturday’s $250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup.
Leap To Fame, regarded by many as the best pacer in the world, was run down after leading by rank outsider Bulletproof Boy, a rising 11-year-old first-up from a spell, in last night’s Smoken Up Sprint.
Not since Courage Under Fire’s 24-race winning streak came to an end at Moonee Valley on January 22, 2000 have Victorian fans witnessed such a shock upset.
What was supposed to be a ho-hum lead-up race, sparked a week of debate and speculation as Leap To Fame prepares to meet a much stronger field in the Victoria Cup.
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It added further fuel to the Victoria Cup hoodoo narrative for Leap To Fame. It’s the one traditional “major” he is yet to win and has already tried twice. He ran a close third in 2023 and was scratched just days before last year’s Cup with a throat infection.
The race was predictable early with trainer-driver Grant Dixon working across from a wide draw to find the lead on Leap To Fame and dictating terms in front.
The first signs of concern came when Dixon had to really shake-up the champ on the home bend. He fought off Miki Pins, who trailed him, but then old Bulletproof Boy exploded from the pack to snatch victory right on the line.
It was just the 14th time in 71 starts that Leap To Fame has been beaten.
“Oh my goodness.” Dan Mielicki can’t believe what he’s seeing as Bulletproof Boy runs down Leap To Fame in the listed Hyland Harness Colours Smoken Up Sprint at Melton tonight. James Herbertson had the drive for trainer Scott Ewen pic.twitter.com/r918klIZRb
— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 11, 2025
Dixon offered no excuses, just some theories why his champ didn’t show his best.
“I’m grasping at straws a bit, but he didn’t travel as well as I expected in the run and I knew on the home bend we had a fight on our hands,” he said.
“The Albion Park track is so hard at the moment, while the Melton track has a beautiful cushioning, but maybe it felt different to him?
“Could it have been travelling closer to the race than we have before, only getting in on the Friday morning?
“I really don’t know, but there’s no panic stations here. I’m just glad I ran him instead of going straight into the Victoria Cup.”
Despite the defeat, Leap To Fame only eased from $1.20 to $1.30 for the Victoria Cup.
Huge credit goes to Bulletproof Boy’s trainer Scott Ewen for causing such an upset, especially with his veteran first-up since June.
“I think that happened?” driver James Herbertson said. “He’s a competitive beast, this old guy. He’s the fastest horse I’ve driven for point-to-point speed and he showed it tonight. We’ve killed Goliath.”
The other big talking point of Melton was the breathtaking return to racing of freakish young trotting mare Keayang Zahara.
Keayang Zahara is back in a big way. The Marg & Paddy Lee-trained 4yo mare, racing for the first time since May, triumphs in the Group 3 Logical Staffing Solutions VL Dullard Trotters Cup at Melton tonight with Jason Lee holding the reins. pic.twitter.com/qJJdKLLSQd
— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 11, 2025
The four-year-old made it 16 wins from just 17 starts when she conceded Inter Dominion champion Arcee Phoenix a 40m start with a lap to run and easily ran him down to win running away.
But driver Jason Lee cautioned those expecting her to just turn up and repeat the dose in next Saturday’s Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint.
“She may run, but it’s not a given. It’s not ideal racing her twice in a week after she’d had a spell. The team at home will think it over and make the decision Monday night.”
Lee and his clan also have the brilliant Jilliby Ballerini, who has won nine of 11 starts this season, set for the Bill Collins.
• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.