Racing: Justice courts trial of strength

Former Cambridge pacer Smoken Up leads a powerful Australian assault on the cup today. Photo / Gary Wild

Lance Justice's chances of scaring his way to New Zealand Cup glory received a massive blow with last night's inclusion of a 100-1 chance in the race.

Canterbury pacer Bondy has been forced out of the great race with a blood complaint, which allows rank outsider Special Ops into the cup.

But under an archaic rule, her inclusion on the front line means Smoken Up, one of the cup favourites who was supposed to start from the outside of the front line, will now be pushed back to the inside of the second line.

That is potentially a huge blow to the outstanding stayer, who trainer-driver Justice was hoping could roll to the front early from a wide draw.

"The inside of the second is the worst draw we could have got," said Justice. "I'm very disappointed."

Smoken Up, who has had only two standing starts, now starts behind fast beginner Bettors Strike and Justice is hoping he can still get into clear air early enough to send his star toward the lead.

If he does that he thinks the legion of crazy Australian reinsmen who have come to New Zealand before him could help Smoken Up scare his way toward cup victory.

A former Cambridge pacer, Smoken Up has developed into the rock other Australian open-class pacers break themselves against in recent seasons.

More often than not he leads or sits parked, looks beaten then fights back to win. He might not have the outright speed of the Kiwis in today's classic but he loves to grind that out of his rivals and Justice knows the giant Addington track will be a blessing.

"On most of the tracks over home he struggles around the home bend, they get close to him and then he fights back," he explains.

"But on this track I think he will be able to get a head of steam up and keep going." The best place to use that talent would be from in front but getting there from the outside of the front line could be tricky with so many superstars drawn inside him.

And that is where Justice is counting on the fear many Kiwi drivers have of their Australian opponents.

It is not fear as in the New Zealanders thinking the Australians are better drivers, quite the opposite.

For decades, many Kiwi drivers have thought the Australians were all mad. It is a reputation forged on the smaller tracks in Australia where leading at all costs is often the only tactic.

It means Australian drivers are naturally more aggressive than most of their transtasman rivals.