The great uncertainty of racing has never been more evident than in Queensland over the weekend with Australia’s two highest profile pacers suffering shock defeats.
The winning streak of champion Leap To Fame came to an end at 13 when he was gunned down in the final strides of the Patrons Purse at Redcliffe on Friday night and some 24 hours later his arch rival and half-sibling Swayzee suffered the same fate at Albion Park.
The reigning Inter Dominion, Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup champion Leap To Fame was expected to add to his winning run at Redcliffe when starting a raging $1.04 favourite and his fans would have been confident when "Larry" found the front.
But the Jason Grimson-trained District Attorney caused one of the biggest upsets in recent memory when gunning down the champ in the closing stages.
District Attorney had pushed to the front early, handed up to Leap To Fame before peeling off his back and surging late to win by a head.
It was District Attorney's second start for Grimson having won the G3 Treuer Memorial at Bankstown in his first outing for the stable.
Leap To Fame is expected to back up in this Friday's Redcliffe Gold Cup where he could clash with Swayzee, who comes off his own narrow loss in Saturday's Listed Lucky Creed Open Pace at Albion Park.
His defeat mirrored that of his brother as his stablemate Nerano led early, handed up to Swayzee before using the sprint lane to gun him down on the line.
Leap To Fame and Swayzee were both only third-up in those defeats so can be expected to build in fitness ahead of next month's Constellations carnival.
A few other carnival contenders were also dealt defeats over the weekend including Captains Knock, who holds a slot in The Rising Sun.
Captains Knock was lining up off a resuming win he came from the widest barrier for fifth at Menangle while his Brad Hewitt-trained stablemate Bluto – who is pushing for a Rising Sun berth - had to settle for second in the opening race in Sydney when gunned down by Hector, another member of the Grimson yard.
Captain Hammerhead is another aiming for a Rising Sun berth and his hopes too received a blow when beaten into third as a $1.22 favourite at Melton.
Tay Tay got one back for favourite punters and added to a good weekend for Grimson when she won at Albion Park and looks a Golden Girl contender alongside her Queen Eliabeth II-winning stablemate Aardies Express.
There were some big performances on the trotting front with Virginia Clowers staking her claim for The Great Square in Brisbane by landing the Matriarch Trot (Listed Classic) at Melton, her fifth win in just six starts so far this campaign.
Caligula could also be Brisbane bound after spanking his rivals by 32m at Menangle while Toro Stride enjoyed the return to a mobile start when an easy winner of the G3 Trotters Mile.
