Racing: Rivals may win hearts but Sokyola notches up the victories

Beating New Zealand's best is not enough for Sokyola - he is now going to try to beat them up.

The underrated harness racing hero continued his Kiwi-killing spree at Moonee Valley on Saturday night, leading throughout to capture the A$300,000 Victoria Cup over Hexus and New Zealand star Just An Excuse.

Having thrashed New Zealand's other pacing elite - Elsu, Mister D G and Roman Gladiator - in the Miracle Mile last month Sokyola now has claims to be the best pacer in Australasia.

The only problem is Sokyola has the charisma of a lamp post.

While he keeps winning races he struggles to win hearts because his racing style is so formulaic. He simply uses his blazing gate speed to lead then runs just fast enough to stay ahead of his opponents.

He has stayed just ahead 63 times now, that winning tally accruing him A$1.64 million in stakes.

But while the flashiness of Elsu and imposing staying prowess of Just An Excuse see them swing between being hailed as champions on their best days and superstars on the worst, Sokyola has struggled to get past being a merely great horse.

Even his trainer-driver Lance Justice readily admits that and says there is only one way to change the veteran Kiwi-bred pacer's image.

"He has to sit outside Elsu or Just An Excuse and beat them," he said.

"I realise they are the best three pacers in Australasia but they have the glamour and Soky has the wins.

"So for us to be hailed as a champion he is going to have to race tough and still beat them.

"That would prove to people that he doesn't just win because his gate speed means he can lead.

"And I think he can do it. I think he migh be tough enough to park outside Elsu and out tough him. I'd like to have a crack at it anyway."

Sokyola might get his chance to do that in the Interdominions at Alexandra Park in March, a series for which he would be equal favourite if a market were open today.

"If we can go over there and beat them on their home track then he will get the accolades he deserves."

Sokyola won't get his chance to prove that in the Auckland Cup in 11 days, with Justice having withdrawn him from the race yesterday.

The flight arrangements did not suit the eight-year-old's plans while Saturday night's win means he would have had to start off a 10m handicap.

"But we will definitely be there for the Inters and I don't think the right-handed track will worry him so I can't wait for that series."

While Sokyola won't be in the Auckland Cup the 3200m feature is still an option for Just An Excuse, who was gutsy in defeat on Saturday night.

With Sokyola setting a farcical pace - the race was won in a time eight seconds slower than last season's Victoria Cup - driver Todd Mitchell had little option but to ask Just An Excuse to sit parked for the last 1400m.

He may still have been able to beat Sokyola but for losing valuable metres on the home bend when he started to hang in the middle of a last 400m in 27 seconds.

"That hurt his chances but he went as good as he can under the circumstances.

"A horse like Sokyola is very hard to get past when he leads and sets that sort of pace."

Trainer Robert Mitchell will see how Just An Excuse returns home before confirming whether he will start in the Auckland Cup.

He is the $5 second favourite for the race, with defending champion Elsu shortening to $3.25 favouritism after the scratching of Sokyola.

Elsu, who starts at the workouts on Saturday, will race next in the Summer Cup at Alexandra Park on Thursday.

While Just An Excuse lost few fans with his third, fellow New Zealand pacer Young Rufus only battled into seventh, not suited by the sit-sprint but disappointing nevertheless.

He will remain in Australia to race over the summer before coming home for the Interdominions.