Although he won’t be changing the codes, Price was so impressed with his first look at Leap To Fame at Melton on Saturday evening that he went to the Australian Gold Sales the next day and bought a yearling.
Price paid $18,000 for a colt from super sire Art Major out of Princess Sandel and declared it would join the stables of Victorian champion trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin.
“It’s all because I was at Melton on Saturday night, saw the great racing and saw Leap To Fame up close,” he said.
“After the race I was lucky enough to spend 30 minutes with Grant Dixon’s wife, Trista, watching Leap To Fame. We talked about heart rate and recovery. I loved it.”
“I was up all day from 3am doing track work and Flemington and my eyes were hanging out of my head, but I’m so glad I went there.
“I was just fascinated by that horse, Leap To Fame. I know he didn’t win, but what a great run it was.”
“I heard the sale was going to be the next day and said to Shona (Dreschler, partner), I wanted to buy one.”
Price looked at the breeding of Leap To Fame. but especially how he moved.
“I knew he was by Bettors Delight out of an Art Major mare and I chose this colt by Art Major. I had no second choice, just this one, and I got him,” he said.
“I drove Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin) crazy. Call me, call me, I want to buy this horse and I want you to train him.”
For Price, it was almost 30 years between visits to a running race.
“The first and only other time was when I snuck out to watch Christian Cullen at Moonee Valley,” he said.
“But Leap To Fame really caught my attention. I’ve been watching his races for a while and have been waiting for an opportune moment and a big meeting to go watch him.”
“I loved it. I thought it was a fantastic night. Harness Racing has improved out of sight and I hope it will flourish again.”
Price is one of many Thoroughbred fans that Leap To Fame has achieved through his record-breaking career.
Blake Shinn, his partner Lucy Yeomans, Wayne Hawkes, Craig Newitt and renowned frontman Reg Fleming all lined the track in Melton.
Fleming, Bart Cummings’ old right-hand man, said former great pacer Paleface Adios was his early favorite on the rig.
“Now I love this man. He’s the first one I’ve really wanted to see since,” he said.
Elsewhere, jockeys Ben Thompson and Tyler Schiller are also big fans of Leap To Fame.
Leap To Fame outpaced his older half-brother Swayzee and finished a close second in the Hunter Cup last Saturday evening.
He has 64 wins and more than $5.3 million to his name and can now compete in the $1 million Miracle Mile in Menangle on March 14.
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing Australia
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