Racing: Aussie pacer cleans up Interdom

Last night's win at Alexandra Park was the 47th of Smoken Up's career and takes his earnings to $2,639,102. Photo / Natalie Slade

The most Australian of horse trainers says he is honoured to share last night's Interdominion Pacing Final glory with New Zealand.

Victorian pacer Smoken Up led home an Australian trifecta in the $800,000 classic at Alexandra Park, completing a transtasman domination of the series.

But trainer-driver Lance Justice says the win belongs as much to New Zealand as it does to Australia.

"He is a Kiwi horse, he started his career here and we bought him here so this is your win as much as ours," said Justice. "And don't worry, I'll be back. I have been buying horses from New Zealand for 20 years and I will keep doing so because you breed such tough, good horses.

"If there was no New Zealand there would be no Smoken Up."

It was a humble accolade from Justice, who delivers classic, confident Aussie quotes with a laconic Aussie drawl.

He declared publicly all week that he would outstay his rivals with Smoken Up and his words became reality, aided greatly when he was able to secure the lead from Blacks A Fake at the 1400m mark.

That was the winning of the race, with Justice believing he was aided in getting the front by Mr Feelgood having a crack at Blacks A Fake first. "Once that happened I thought I could get the front and that was a huge help."

Securing the pacemaking role gave Smoken Up the inside running and was enough to see him hold out Themightyquinn, who looked the winner when he burst into contention on the home bend.

But Justice says he was confident even when the favourite came knocking on his door at the 200m mark.

"I thought I would outstay him because my horse holds his sprint longer than Themightyquinn."

Blacks A Fake was the bravest of thirds, his 10-year-old legs lacking the speed of yesteryear but his heart lacking none of the fight.

The win was the 47th of Smoken Up's career and takes his earnings to $2,639,102, a stunning return on the five-figure sum Justice and his owners paid for him four years ago.

Ironically Smoken Up was co-trained in New Zealand by David Butcher, who drove Elsu to win the last Interdominion Pacing Final at Alexandra Park in 2005. He won just two races in New Zealand but was always a big immature horse and strengthened as he got older, thriving on Justice's hard training and aggressive driving.

So while it was an Australian trifecta last night the first two horses started their careers in New Zealand, providing a valuable boost for the local breeding industry.

The race was a good result for many punters, with Smoken Up starting second favourite and Themightyquinn favourite.

But Justice was smart enough to get his small bet on Smoken Up before the series started.

When the horse handled Alexandra Park's right-handed track well in a private workout 17 days ago, Justice had his $100 bet on him at longer odds than he started last night. It pales compared with his percentage of the winning stake but Justice just loved the fact he backed his opinion and won.

He is still an Aussie, after all.