IT has been one of the great sibling rivalries.
Since Swayzee first met and upset his younger half-brother Leap To Fame in the 2023 Blacks A Fake, they have clashed another eight times.
The scoreline is firmly in Leap To Fame’s favour at 6-3.
But you could argue they are three-all across the six “majors” they have clashed in when one of them has won.
Swayzee’s wins over Leap To Fame been in two Hunter Cups (2025 and ’26) and that 2023 Blacks A Fake.
Leap To Fame’s “major” wins over Swayzee have come in this year’s Miracle Mile, the 2024 Brisbane Inter Dominion and the 2024 Blacks A Fake.
The other three times he has beaten Swayzee home have been in the 2025 Miracle Mile (Leap To Fame was second and Swayzee fourth), this year’s Cranbourne Cup and the 2024 Mr Feelgood at Albion Park.
There’s no doubt Leap To Fame is better than Swayzee, but he becomes vulnerable when he has to sit outside his older sibling and driver Cam Hart really puts the foot down on Swayzee.
That’s how it’s played out in each of the three races Swayzee has beaten Leap To Fame in.
The way the barriers have fallen for this $1 million Race by Sport Nation, the most likely scenario is Swayzee finding the front gate two with Leap To Fame working around to sit outside him.
In five of their nine clashes, Swayzee has led.
The scoreline is 3-2.
What’s interesting this time is the middle distance of 2200m.
Swayzee’s three wins over Leap To Fame have been in genuine staying races (2760m Hunter Cup and 2680m Blacks A Fake).
Leap To Fame has been able to sit outside him and beat him in two shorter races, last month’s Miracle Mile the 2024 Mr Feelgood 2138m.
In the longer races, Hart seems to have mastered getting Leap To Fame outside of his comfort zone.
But he couldn’t do that when he led in last month’s Miracle Mile and Leap To Fame had him beaten before the home turn.
It was the same in that 2024 Mr Feelgood, albeit it was a long time ago and the Swayzee team say he was below his best that night.
The point is, is the 2200m a long enough race for Hart to try and “break” Leap To Fame like the gruelling staying races?
And, if he tries, could it be the undoing of him and maybe Leap To Fame, too?
Will it bring the likes of The Janitor and (if he’s right) Kingman into the race?
The Janitor looks the most dangerous.
Although he had his chance to beat Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile and peaked on the run, The Janitor made his run early, was shoved wide and did a mighty job.
The trailing draw is absolutely perfect for him at this stage of his career.
-Adam Hamilton
