The greatest horse in southern hemisphere’s harness racing history has completed the final jewel in the crown and WA will soon be on Leap To Fame’s radar after taking Tuesday’s New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m).

In the unique standing start event with surprisingly slushy conditions underfoot, the $1.90 favourite began quickly but was beaten to the early supremacy by his half-brother Swayzee ($4.80), who took up the frontrunner’s role.

Marketplace ($8.50) ranged around to challenge the pacesetter but when unable to get by, he restrained and that was trainer-driver Grant Dixon’s cue to come calling with Leap To Fame.

For the next two laps, the brothers compared notes before Leap To Fame wrested the advantage away on the final bend.

Marketplace found clear air to challenge but Leap To Fame was strong on the line and topped his unrivalled CV with the race that had so far eluded him.

“I’m just so proud of him. He just delivered yet again so late in his career,” Dixon said.

“He travelled so well. I never say he’s going to win but he felt like a winner, and I thought he was going to be there at the finish.”

But for his derbies, Inter Dominions, Miracle Miles and even a Hunter Cup, this was the race that Dixon had craved.

Swayzee had collected the trophy in 2023 and 2024 before Leap To Fame attempted his own title last year but was thwarted by Kingman.

“Growing up and watching it and seeing how great a day it is, I think it’s the pinnacle for mine. Everyone’s got their opinion, but it’s always been the one that I really wanted to win,” Dixon said.

“As good as he is, that’s how hard it is to win this race. Everything’s really got to align for you.

“I was super worried about Swayzee because he’d bounced back and we’d just never been able to sit outside of him over a trip like that.

“I was confident we were going to be fighting it out right to the line and he just did travel well and I thought I was going to get Swayzee for a change.

“I knew Marketplace was on my back the whole way and I was just hoping that bit of work he’d done early was just going to pay the price the last little bit for him. Thankfully, he held on.”

With 77 wins from 97 appearances, the rising eight-year-old has a stud career beckoning but will grace WA with his presence in next April’s Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park where he’s already the $1.85 favourite.