By Adam Hamilton\u00a0<\/p>\n
Champion pacer Leap To Fame has forced himself back into Miracle Mile contention.<\/p>\n
Mindful of his hectic five-race Victorian campaign, connections were leaning towards bypassing Australasia\u2019s premier speed test to focus on next month\u2019s Cambridge raid.<\/p>\n
But Leap To Fame has thrived so well since returning to Team Dixon\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Leap To Fame\u2019s surprise inclusion will make this the best Miracle Mile in over a decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just done so well since getting back to Queensland (after a Victorian campaign), he\u2019s made the decision for us,\u201d owner Kevin Seymour said.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictorian 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s the best he\u2019s ever travelled. He\u2019s bucking his brands off and we\u2019ll head to Sydney on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re also mindful it\u2019s a $1 million race and this could be his last racing campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seymour said a decision on Leap To Fame\u2019s racing career and possible retirement to stud would be made after the Brisbane Inter Dominion in July.<\/p>\n
Leap To Fame firmed from $6 into $3.50 equal favourite for the Miracle Mile when Seymour confirmed the Sydney trip.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The first and only horse guaranteed a run is old Victorian marvel Bulletproof Boy, who stormed home from last to win last Friday night\u2019s $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a dream come true. It\u2019s the race I\u2019ve always wanted to have a runner in. He ran fourth in a qualifier and just missed last year,\u201d trainer Scott Ewen said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But Herbertson was struck down by a mystery illness after the win and his immediate future is in limbo.<\/p>\n
The dual Australian premiership-winning driver was taken to hospital with a suspected blood clot.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not exactly sure what it is, but James will have a scan today (Sunday) to find out more,\u201d Herbertson\u2019s partner Ewa Justice said.<\/p>\n
Brilliant young mare Captains Mistress stormed her way into next Saturday\u2019s Group 1 Chariots Fire and a possible Miracle Mile start with a sparkling Paleface Adios Stakes win at Menangle last night.<\/p>\n
It was her fifth win from as many starts since moving from NZ to Jason Grimson\u2019s Menangle stable.<\/p>\n
Captains Mistress is $1.30 for the Chariots Of Fire where a win would get her a golden ticket into the Miracle Mile.<\/p>\n
Catch A Wave won the Chariots Of Fire\/Miracle Mile double in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf she wins, we\u2019ll have a crack at the Miracle Mile. She\u2019s something else,\u201d Grimson said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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