RACE COMMENT

OVERVIEW: The Shepparton Gold Cup might only have five starters, but what a mouth-watering match race this shapes to be between two of the biggest stars in the sport. KINGMAN (1) has a 2-0 head-to-head record over LEAP TO FAME (3), having beaten him in the Victoria Cup and New Zealand Cup in recent months. He was only fair first-up from a little break when third in last weekend’s Bendigo Cup after having a great run in the one-one, but reports were that trainer-driver Luke McCarthy wasn’t entirely happy with the horse after travelling down from New South Wales. He has stayed in Victoria this week and gets the chance to bounce back. Tactics will be fascinating here as KINGMAN (1) is expected to lead from gate one, with Grant Dixon then needing to make a decision on when he rolls around to sit parked with his champion LEAP TO FAME (3). While the recent battles and likely map say KINGMAN (1), I’m going to back in the Queensland hero in what should be a stirring final lap. There will likely be a gap back to third, which should be occupied by OUR LUCIANO (4).