Racing: Sokyola on track for triumph

Lance Justice knows Sokyola is up to winning tonight's $A300,000 Victoria Cup - he just hopes he is too.

Justice trains and drives the Victorian millionaire who is the only horse standing in the way of a Kiwi victory in tonight's group one event.

Just An Excuse and Young Rufus will represent New Zealand and both can win if they have any luck. And more importantly, Sokyola has no luck.

The local has drawn the best barrier he could have under the preferential group system, which means the best six horses had to draw the worst barriers.

Sokyola came out of that perfectly at barrier six, from where he should have few problems blasting off the gate to lead and dominate the race.

And that is where Justice says he has to produce the sort of drive Sokyola deserves.

"This is the most important tactical drive of my life," says Justice.

"I have enormous respect for Just An Excuse and realise if I make a mistake he is good enough to come from behind us and win."

Justice believes he has to keep Sokyola rolling along at the perfect tempo, one which deters challengers but doesn't use too much energy and leave him a sitting duck.

"I know he has won the last two Miracle Miles by having a breather after the start then sprinting home but this is a different race altogether.

"If I try and go too slow then Just An Excuse might get parked without working hard and then we could be in trouble.

"I am looking forward to the challenge.

"I know the horse is up to it because he is as good as he has ever been."

Sokyola has to be the horse to beat because his dream scenario is being in front at Moonee Valley and he looks certain to end up there soon after the start tonight.

Few on the front line have high gate speed and most would be willing to hand the lead to him to secure the passing lane run in the final 150m.

Unless he is worked over early or in the middle stages it will take a very special performance to run him down, although his $2.35 quote in Australia yesterday was a little on the short side.

While Just An Excuse was under a travel sickness cloud earlier this week his trainer Robert Mitchell declared he would not start him unless the dual New Zealand Cup winner was back to his best.

So punters should go into tonight's race with the attitude if the giant pacer is on the track he is ready for battle.

Just An Excuse will undoubtedly have to cover extra ground to down Sokyola but has done that before, beating him fair and square in the Ballarat Cup in January.

He has also been beaten only once in 10 mobile start races, that defeat coming when he didn't handle the track in last year's Miracle Mile.

His New Zealand Cup-Free-For-All double confirmed Just An Excuse is stronger than last season.

If the pace is hot tonight he can outsprint the favourite, although the lack of a suitable cart into the race is a concern.

While Sokyola and Just An Excuse will dominate betting there is no doubting the sentimental favourite will be Young Rufus.

His last serious win was in this race in February 2003 when he was being touted as a champion pacer of world class.

His near-miss with the Grim Reaper the next month left him a shadow of his former self and only in the last two months has he looked interested in winning again.

His run for second to Sokyola after being three wide for the entire race here eight days ago was remarkable and convinced trainer Mark Purdon he can win tonight.

"It was a great run and if he had drawn to lead I think he would have been the one to beat," said Purdon.

"The wide draw means we might have to work early but I'd still like to be handy and I think he can be in it.

"He is not that far below the form he was in when he won this race two seasons ago."

Of the remaining Australians Hexus is drawn to be a threat and could sit behind Sokyola for most of the race so is a must for trifectas.

Young Rufus has firmed from $8 to $7.50.

THE NUMBERS

5 Wins for Young Rufus in Australia, the last in the Victoria Cup two seasons ago.

1 Only win for Just An Excuse in Australia; he beat Sokyola.

62 Career wins for Sokyola, worth A$1.44 million in stakes.