Racing: Sokyola seeking some Justice

Lance Justice has thrown many pre-race Miracle Mile predictions into chaos by unleashing one of the great barrages in the history of harness racing.

Justice heads to Harold Park in Sydney tonight facing what some may think is mission impossible, trying to win a third Miracle Mile with champion pacer Sokyola.

Sokyola has won the last two Miles by using his blistering gate speed to lead and then control the pace but he faces a snag as he tries to repeat those tactics tonight.

Because while Sokyola has drawn barrier four, drawn barrier three is Perth pacer Lookslikelightning, who has unbelievable gate speed.

More so then any other feature race in Australasia the Miracle Mile is settled by horses' gate speed and where they settle, with the tight track and quality of horses making it extremely hard to make ground from the back.

After the barrier draw most experts' natural reaction was to declare Lookslikelightning a certain leader, which would put favourite It Is I on his back securing the trail.

If the race became a dawdle then one of the pair almost had to win.

But Justice says he won't have any of that and vows that the leader - for that read Lookslikelightning - won't win.

"The leader will not win this Miracle Mile," said Justice.

"I know we are going to have to sit outside him but I didn't win 73 races with this horse by being passive.

"I'd have loved to have drawn inside him but now that we haven't I have no choice but to keep the pace on.

"I know that may sound like I could make the race for the swoopers but look at it my way. To win the race I have to beat the leader first and then worry about getting run down.

"So we will be going."

While Justice may simply be talking tough he says Sokyola is back to the form which won him the last two Miles in fast times and says he is up to savaging the leader.

"A few weeks ago I was worried about him but he has really bounced back," said Justice.

"Just to make sure I gave him a really hard run at my place last week and he broke his own track record by over a second. He will be ready."

Those fighting words should not only bother those supporting Lookslikelightning but also It Is I, because he is almost certain to be behind the leader and will have nowhere to go if he gets tired at the top of the straight, with Harold Park having no passing lane.

If the Aussie drivers do go crazy up front then the race could be made for value options Robin Hood, Be Good Johnny and Slipnslide along with Kiwi mare Foreal.

All three of the Australian horses are in great form, with Slipnslide a sprint specialist who won the Chariots Of Fire on this same track early this year. With the right drag into the race he can win at good odds on the Kiwi tote.

The same applies for Be Good Johnny, who should sit handy to the pace but Robin Hood, for all his ability doesn't look a natural Miracle Mile horse.

For that reason the hotter the pace the better he will be suited.

Which leaves Foreal.

It is hard to believe a mare who was beaten in a lower grade mares mile at Ashburton three starts ago could be New Zealand's sole Miracle Mile contender but she loves Harold Park with its relentless racing pattern.

Driver Anthony Butt doesn't even need a pre-race plan because the NSW Oaks winner has no gate speed so will settle last or near last.

While she may lack the outright class to get over the top of her rivals even a top three placing would be a huge bonus to her breeding career.

"We will be back and hope they go hard," said Butt. "If that happens we have a chance, if it doesn't then she will need a miracle."

The likely hot tempo of the race makes it even more of a tragedy New Zealand's other rep Sly Flyin was scratched this week because the race may have panned out perfectly for him.

NEED FOR SPEED

* The A$500,000 Miracle Mile will be held in Sydney tonight.

* Two-time winner Sokyola's trainer Lance Justice says he will make it a truly run race.

* Perth pacer Lookslikelightning is expected to lead, giving the trail to favourite It Is I.

* New Zealand mare Foreal is one of the outsiders of the field.