Superstars chasing glory Across the Ditch
Across the Ditch • October 24th, 2025 11:27 AM • 3 min read
Harness Racing - Adam Hamilton
All eyes will be on the opening race at Melton on Saturday night.
It’s almost certain Leap To Fame’s performance will decide if he tackles next month’s $1mil IRT NZ Cup or not.
Doubts have lingered since last Saturday night when Leap To Fame was beaten into third spot in the Victoria Cup.
It was the first time in almost two years Leap To Fame has lost two races in a row.
A pleasing blood test early this week, combined with Leap To Fame eating well and seeming bright, has convinced trainer-driver Grant Dixon to race his champion pacer again this week.
It will be his fourth run in as many weeks.
Leap To Fame has drawn the outside of the six runners, but should press forward and find the lead from probably early pacemaker, Bulletproof Boy, the pacer who upset Leap To Fame two starts back.
The other class factor of the race is eight-time Group One winner Catch A Wave, who is also backing up from the Victoria Cup after a disappointing seventh after trailing the leader.
Leap To Fame is still booked on a flight to Christchurch, via Auckland, on November 5.
The NZ Cup flavour will continue into next week in Australia when Victoria Cup winner Kingman will be tried from a standing-start for the first time.
“There’s a standing start trial at Menangle and that could be what decides if we go or not,” trainer-driver Luke McCarthy said.
At Albion Park on Saturday night, gifted Queensland trotter Gus caps his preparation for an NZ raid in a 2138m free-for-all.
The others are emerging four-year-old mare Jilliby Ballerini, Inter Dominion winner Arcee Phoenix and the talented Parisian Artiste.
Two other Aussie trotters are Christchurch-bound, but they are three-year-old pair Tracy The Jet and Gatesys Gem for the $500,000 The Ascent on Show Day.
Thoroughbred Racing - Nick Quinn
After winning the race by a stunning eight lengths last year as a $5 third elect, Via Sistina comes into the race this year on the back of consecutive defeats having ran third in both the Makybe Diva Stakes and Turnbull Stakes, starting favourite on both occasions.
Her trainer Chris Waller has won the Cox Plate five times and saddles up three runners in the race this year with Via Sistina joined by Aeliana and Buckaroo.
Waller remains confident though in Via Sistina bouncing back and has the Australian Racehorse of the Year tuned up for her "grand final" performance at The Valley.
She set the fastest time on Tuesday at the breakfast with the best.
Aeliana is the most intriguing runner.
The ATC Derby winner is winless this campaign, but the stable has elected to send her here which is a positive sign.
Antino is another without a win this campaign, but his three runs have been full of merit.
Antino was the star of the Queensland carnival winning the Hollandale Stakes and the Doomben Cup by big margins.
Since final field there have been a series of big bets including $6625 on Via Sistina at $2.20 and $3500 at $2.30.
Greyhound Racing - Jared Timms
Melbourne riches are on the cards for Power And Glory after the greyhound stamped himself as arguably Australia’s best greyhound in last weekend’s Million Dollar Chase.
Having already won the Gr.1 Golden Easter Egg Final over the famous Wentworth Park 520m course in April, Power And Glory has truly gone to a new level this time in, and that peaked with his incredible seven-length romp in Saturday’s A$1 million-to-the-winner feature.
Trainer Ken Burnett, who has remained patient with the injury-plagued son of Hooked On Scotch since his debut in early 2024, was understandably elated after the win.
“As soon as he came out of the boxes and got through the (first) bend safe, I knew he was home,” Burnett said.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s life changing. There’s a lot of work behind the scenes … but let me tell you, we’re buzzing.”
Power And Glory became the first and only other dog since She’s A Pearly (2021) to do the Golden Easter Egg/Million Dollar Chase double, and Hurst credited her trainer, Andy Lord, for his role in this year’s success.
“Andy, we’ve done it mate! Andy’s been a big supporter of mine. I worked him with many years again and everyone’s got to have a mentor, and Andy was mine,” he added.
The biggest feature races remaining in 2025 in Australia will be contested in Victoria, and including November 8th’s Top Gun at The Meadows, for which Power And Glory has been installed a $6 second elect in betting.
The Melbourne Cup, slated for Sandown Park on November 29th shapes as the race of the year and feature Power And Glory as a $13 chance in futures betting, while The Phoenix, the world’s richest greyhound slot race, will be contested at The Meadows on December 13th.
On Big Saturday this week domestic racing from Ellerslie and Riccarton Park including the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes, followed by the Cox Plate from Moonee Valley! Tune into Trackside 1 or trackside.co.nz from 11:30am.
