In the five-horse field is arguably the greatest Australian pacer of the modern era – some say of all time – Queensland-trained Leap To Fame.
The Grant Dixon-prepared and driven Leap To Fame has won a remarkable 61 of his 78 starts with 15 minor placings which have earned him more than $5 million in prizemoney.
One of his rivals in tomorrow night’s $50,000 feature is the NSW raider Kingman who has beaten him in the Victoria Cup last last year and is being touted as the next big thing in harness ranks in Australia.
The appearances of Leap To Fame and Kingman is the popular reason why Shepparton’s most sought-after race could attract only five runners.
Many trainers were not tempted to take on Leap To Fame or Kingman under equal handicap conditions from the mobile over the testing 2690m trip as they simply believe it would be a waste of time and money trying to upstage them.
Fortunately loyal local trainers Bec Bartley and Steve O’Donoghue haven’t adopted this attitude and will have runners tackling the might of the visitors.
Bartley has New Yorker in the race and O‘Donoghue the veteran Western Sonador.
But realistically neither have any chance of causing a monumental boilover.
The other runner in the race is the Elmore-trained Our Luciano who has the best current form credentials outside Leap To Fame and Kingman.
Leap To Fame has won his past two starts at Albion Park and Kingman six of his past seven.
Kingman, trained and driven by trots legend Luke McCarthy, performed a little below par when beaten into third place by the old marvel Bulletproof Boy in the Bendigo Cup at Melton last Saturday night, but still looks Leap To Fame’s only danger.
But what looks to be a two-horse race is still going to be worth going a long way to see.
The Shepparton Gold Cup is the second leg of six races in which a $1 million bonus is on offer for any horse who can win at least four legs, but with a proviso they must include the $250,000 Group One Hunter Cup at Melton on February 14.
The Shepparton Trotters Cup also failed to entice a big field, but like the pacing cup has a superstar engaged.
Finley-owned Arcee Phoenix, who boasts 17 wins and more than $1 million in prizemoney, is one of the best trotters in Australia.
The Chris Svanosio-trained and driven trotter is expected to improve his record tomorrow night, but may not get it all his own way.
One of his rivals is the local hope Im Bobby who has proved himself at this level for his Congupna trainer Eddie Tappe and can never be underestimated.
It would be a surprise if either of these two trotters don’t win, but it should be another absorbing duel for the expected large crowd to savour.
Seven supporting races to the two feature events have attracted good fields.
The first race is at 6.12pm and the last at 10.25pm.
