NZ Cup Doubt Cast Over Leap To Fame's Racing Plans

Racing plans for Leap To Fame are uncertain after changes to New Zealand's racing landscape. The horse, owned by Kevin Seymour, had been eyeing a win in the NZ Cup at Addington in Christchurch on November 10. However, the prize money for the race was slashed from $NZ1 million to $NZ800,000 last Friday, making it a less appealing prospect.

Seymour conceded that the NZ trip is now in genuine doubt due to the reduced prize money and the weak NZ dollar. He stated, 'We've got a lot of thinking to do now... It's not just the cut to NZ prize money, but the other main race we'd run in, the (Group 1) NZ free-for-all is also down from $NZ250,000 to $NZ150,000.'

The owner hinted that the $250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 17 could be back on the table if Leap To Fame does not head to New Zealand. 'We'd pretty much ruled it out when NZ was a definite, but if he doesn't go to NZ then it's something we would consider,' Seymour said.