Across the Ditch: Leap To Fame and Swayzee eye NZ Showdown
Across the Ditch • July 24th, 2025 9:16 AM • 5 min read
Harness Racing - Adam Hamilton
Leap To Fame’s latest Inter Dominion romp has all of New Zealand talking.
That’s because his next major target will be the iconic NZ Trotting Cup at Addington on November 11.
And, all going well, he will likely cross the ditch early for a lead-up race before the big dance.
But it gets even better.
The NZ Cup also looms as the next clash between Leap To Fame and his arch-rival, dual NZ Cup winner Swayzee.
The pacing giants of Australasia have clashed five times with Leap To Fame holding a 4-2 advantage, but Swayzee did win their last staying clash in the Gr.1 Hunter Cup on February 1.
And, of course, Swayzee has been to Addington and won the past two NZ Cups.
While Leap To Fame was strolling away with last Saturday night’s Brisbane Inter Dominion final, Swayzee was stepping up his preparation after a lengthy spell.
Connections felt Swayzee needed a break after a tough last campaign which took him to NZ, Victoria, WA and all around NSW to chase the NSW Carnival of Cups.
“He’s progressing well and the Victoria Cup (October 18) will be his first target before we head back to NZ again,” trainer Jason Grimson said.
Leap To Fame will have a short break now, while connections map out the specifics of his next NZ raid.
He will not tackle the Victoria Cup.
The pacing giants will be joined at Addington in November by newly crowned Inter Dominion trotting champ Arcee Phoenix.
Chris Svanosio’s star is no stranger to NZ. This will be his fourth trip across the ditch and he’s got better each time.
In other news, Inter Dominion runner-up Speak The Truth is one of a number of star performers from Brisbane who will now target the Gr.1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle on September 4.
His trainer Shannon Price said stablemate Sure Thing Captain, who won two Inter Dominions heats before an eighth from an awful draw in the final, would also head to Sydney.
Andy Gath confirmed the Len Smith was the next major aim with Catch A Wave. He won the race last year.
Greyhound Racing - Jared Timms
October’s Million Dollar Chase looks the likely target for in-form chaser Badger’s Beast following another featured victory last week.
Having claimed the lucrative Thunderbolt Final at Grafton in race-record time last month, Badger’s Beast returned to the northern rivers for an easy victory in his Grafton Cup heat before repeating the dose in the AU$25,000 final.
Trainer Peter Lagogiane has been understandably thrilled with the progression made by his star sprinter in recent months.
“We couldn’t be happier, I’m brimming, I’m smiling ear to ear,” Lagogiane said after the Grafton Cup Final.
“It’s a huge effort to come out, travel eight hours up the highway with a dog like him. He’s got a character to die for, he’s got a will to win, and he’s got a heart as big as Phar Lap, this dog.
“As soon as I pulled up today, Jason McKay said it was the best Grafton Cup he’s every seen and he’s been seeing it for a long, long time.”
Having won two Million Dollar Chase Finals with Mystic Riot (2018) and Handsome Prince (2020), Lagogiane revealed that it would be silly not to consider a tilt at New South Wales’ richest greyhound race.
“I’d be mad to say no, but let’s see,” he said.
Having won nine of his last ten starts, Badger’s Beast has won more than AU$125,000 in prize money.
Early Million Dollar Chase betting has Country Classic winner, Jungle Johnny, and Golden Easter Egg champion, Power And Glory as tied $15 favourites.
Thoroughbred Racing - Nick Quinn
Rising star trainer Reece Goodwin enjoyed a magnificent 2024/25 season and he hopes two of his stable runners can put his name up in lights this spring.
Lovelycut is a rising four year-old who has shown plenty of ability including eye catching victories at Pakenham and Sandown.
Goodwin aims to send her around in top competition again this preparation including in a Group 3 race at Caulfield.
“She was ready to rock and roll a few months ago but she had a slight setback so we gave her a break, she will have two jump-outs and hopefully be ready to head to the track.”
While Goodwin feels she could stretch out over ground with the right conditions, expect to see her kept sprinting this campaign.
“She could get 1300m or even 140om in the right sort of mares race, but she is electric so we will keep her to the sprinting trips.” He said.
Goodwin said that the plan is to have two jump-outs and then potentially kick off in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on August 30 over 1200m.
“We had a great season, but it is important to have success in the spring as that is really what brings eyes to the stable.”
Lovelycut's stabelmate Bermondsey is currently one of the best maiden gallopers in the country after running second to potential topliner Buccleuch two starts ago before finishing fourth to Arcora last start.
“He has gone for a spell, but it will be a short one and we are hoping he can be a key player for us in the spring.”
Some of the potential targets for Bermondsey this spring include The Moonee Valley Vase, also know as the Drummond Golf Vase, which is a Group 2 race held at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day over 2400m and worth $500,000 for thee year-olds and run under set weight conditions.
The other possibility is a three year-old race over 1800m on Melbourne Cup Day.
Goodwin has developed a reputation as a genius with tried horses, but Bermondsey was a horse he purchased for just $2000 for at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale.
Goodwin will saddle up four runners at Pakenham on Monday and is especially upbeat about the chances of Missile Girl.
Goodwin purchased the daughter of Just A Girl after she had failed to place in three career starts for “A song” and she has already paid for the investment by running second in both runs for the stable, the most recent she was unlucky in defeat.
