Racing: Justice wants final verdict

Smoken Up is in top form for the Interdominion Grand Final tonight. Photo / Greg Bowker

From anybody else it would sound arrogant, an attempt at intimidation. Even just plain stupid.

But coming from Lance Justice the declaration of war on his fellow Australians in tonight's $800,000 Interdominion Pacing Final sounds logical and fair.

Justice is set to be the key player in the Alexandra Park classic with his equine sledgehammer Smoken Up likely to set the tone in the 2700m event.

While West Australian speedster Themightyquinn is the fastest horse in the race, he doesn't have the draw or the racing style to play the bully boy.

Justice and Smoken Up have both. And a total absence of fear.

Smoken Up follows out the pacer everybody expects to be in front with two laps to go, Interdom hero Blacks A Fake.

Such is the respect for Smoken Up's form and stamina there is not a driver in the race who would consider not handing him the parked position if, as expected, Blacks A Fake leads and stay there. And Justice says that suits him perfectly.

"Because I think I can sit outside Blacks A Fake and beat him, in fact I am sure of it," said Justice, without the merest hint of chest puffing.

"I sat outside him in the Miracle Mile and beat him and my horse is going three lengths better now, while I think Natalie's horse isn't quite as sharp.

"Don't get me wrong, we all know Blackie is a champ and if I have to get beat I won't mind it being by him but I just can't see it happening.

"I'm not really worried about him at all."

Times and performances in this series would suggest Justice could have a point, but Blacks A Fake is the most special of pacers on the biggest occasions.

Whether he knows this is an Interdominion Final remains to be seen.

And Justice is just as pragmatic, and dismissive, of the only other Grand Final winner in tonight's race, Mr Feelgood.

He could well end up handy and stalking Smoken Up yet Justice says that is just fine too.

"He has never run past me and I don't think he can do it this week. So I am not worried about him much either.

"If I can sit outside Blacks A Fake and control the speed the question is how close can Themightyquinn get before we have to get going?

"That's the race as I see it but quite simply my horse has never been better or handled a track better so we are the horse to beat, I've got no doubt about that."

For two seasons, Smoken Up has been the pacer other Grand Circuit horses broke themselves against, often making the biggest races for those who sit in his slipstream.

Tonight if that is Mr Feelgood he could be in trouble.

If it is one of the less-qualified Kiwi pacers he might just be able to sit parked and win the Interdominion Final, as the great South Auckland pacer Elsu did when the series last visited here in 2005.

Either way Smoken Up is the key to the race, the horse to beat and a great each-way bet.

And the horse with the most confident driver.

FINAL NIGHT

Where: Alexandra Park.
When: First race 5.14pm.
Who: The richest pacing field ever assembled in New Zealand and the elite transtasman trotters.
Watch: Trackside television has Alexandra Park only coverage on Sky digital 36.
At the track: Free entry.
First 500 customers wearing red and black after 4pm get $20 betting voucher.
Sidelights: Competitions and drinks specials for those dressed in red and black. Chance to buy Support Canterbury red and black ribbons.
The punt: $50,000 bonus added to quaddie; $25,000 to first four on race four and the Pacing and Trotting Finals: $100,000 guaranteed Pick6; final field fixed odds all races.

FACTS AND FIGURES FOR THE PACERS' GRAND FINAL

Pacing final, mobile 2700m, 9.40pm:
Draw has really opened race up but after the early shuffle it looks like Blacks A Fake (2) will lead and Smoken Up (10) will sit outside him. That could leave Mr Feelgood (11) stalking them and that makes him a great each-way bet. Slightly disappointed last Friday but might be sharper tonight and 2700m will suit. On his Auckland Cup run he can win. Smoken Up (10) is in career best form and is the danger. If by some miracle he gets the lead he should win. Blacks A Fake (2) is a champion and will take a power of running past. Might be beaten for speed but he has stunned us all before. Themightyquinn (15) is the fastest horse here and with the right cart into the race could blow them away. But with the other favourites drawn to be handy he might struggle to find the right trail. One more genius drive from Gary Hall and he will win, but this is his hardest test to date. Best of the Kiwis is Smiling Shard (6) who is tough but hasn't done enough to suggest he will beat the Aussies. Pembrook Benny (3) could cross them early so has a miracle trifecta chance on his Auckland Cup run. The rest are all good enough to get the money but the question is how are they going to do that?

Selections: Mr Feelgood, Smoken Up, Blacks A Fake, Themightyquinn.

The punt: Mr Feelgood each-way; Smoken Up if he gets out to $5.

The market: $3.20: Themightyquinn, $4: Blacks A Fake, Smoken Up; $5.50: Mr Feelgood, $15: Monkey King, $16: Smiling Shard, $26: Washakie, Sleepy Tripp; $31: Power Of Tara, $61: Villagem, Choise Achiever; $81: Captain Peacock, $101: Pembrook Benny, Captain Joy; Franco Jamar.