Lance Justice declared war on his fellow countrymen  in his quest for a piece of the $800,000 prize on offer.

People aren’t shrugging off his statements either with Justice all but assured of taking the early lead in the final with his intimidating mount Smoken Up.

Themightyquinn is the quickest horse in the race but the West Australian doesn’t ahve the barrier or the early speed to take up the running early.

Early speed is something Smoken Up isn’t short on and with  Justice driving it will be aggressive form the word go.

Justice didn’t stop with his verbal crusade either, instead changing his attack to Blacks A Fake which will be the other horse at the eha dof the field.

“I think I can sit outside Blacks A Fake and beat him, in fact I am sure of it,” Justice said.

“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.”

Despite the bravado, Justice does have the runs on the board with his times this series certainly proving his point.

Blacks A Fake is proven on the big stage though so Smoken Up will need to show a confidence similar to his driver on race night.

He’s even less forgiving for former grand final winner Mr Feelgood, barely acknowledging him as a starter.

“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.”

The star of the show at the moment is Victorian Smoken Up which is ready for a clean sweep of the heats in Auckland after finding even more luck in the gate draw.

Trainer-driver Lance Justice was ecstatic after his charger drew spot one for his next Alexandra Park qualifying heat.

“Everything has fallen into the place so far on the trip,” Justice said.

“He handled the travel well, seems to love racing in the opposite direction over here and we’ve drawn well in both heats.

“I couldn’t believe how easily he won and how fantastic he felt last week. There’s no reason he won’t be better again this week.

“We all know the speed he’s got, so I’ll be leading and there’s no reason he shouldn’t win again.”

His major challengers in the race will all start alongside him on the front row with Smiling Shard in two, Power Of Tara in three, Washakie in four and Blacks A Fake in five.

Natalie Rasmussen was satisfied with Blacks A Fake’s draw and said this race will be entirely different to what we saw last week.

“He needed the run last week so I drove him soft, but this week he’s ready to do it tough,” she said.

“He’s a different horse from this time last week.”

In the first of Friday’s pacing heats Mr Feelgood has every chance to win the race after grabbing position one.

His main rival Im Themightyquinn will have it all to do from spot ten.

Another Victorian, Villagem will start from gate two in that race and should qualify after running third to Smoken Up last week.

One of New Zealand’s top hopes Monkey King grabbed position nine setting himself up for the sprint lane on the home turn.

In the trotting heats Sundons Gift is another Australian which can lay claim to having the prime starting spot while stablemate Let Me Thru will need to force his way into the race from a wide gate.

Alexandra Park hasn’t been a happy place for Australian horses in the past but the top four horses in the pacing series markets with online bookmaker Luxbet are all from Australia.

It’s a similar story for the trotters with the Aussie contingent big favourites at the top with two horses.

Annoying the Kiwi’s even more is the fact three of the top six Aussie runners were in fact bred across the ditch in New Zealand.

Themightyquinn, Smoken Up and Sundon’s Gift all left New Zealand’s shores as decent runners but have been transformed into million dollar earners.

Some section of the New Zealand media argue there are some horses such as Christian Cullen and Elsu which could hold off the Aussie invasion but it’s a mute point given they are not there.

Auckland Reactor was shaping as their great hope but he may not even compete after his latest in a long series of issues.

In reality though New Zealand has a heap of horses and a heap of talented ones at that, but the Aussie contingent this year is just bigger, stronger, faster and a hell of a lot tougher.

That’s obvious to see with New Zealand still doing well in age-group races but the harder the racing gets the Aussies seem to be showing a hell of a lot more determination.

Few are more qualified to talk about it than champion New Zealand trainer Barry Purdon who has had plenty of success in Australia.

He says it’s the style of Aussie racing which is producing horses capable of sticking with it at Interdominion class.

“I think the way they race them over there makes them tougher.

“Sure, it goes in cycles but in Australia they are not scared to jump on a plane and head to Perth or put them on a float for 10 hours to go somewhere.

“And when they do race they are not scared to sit parked, like Mr Feelgood in the Auckland Cup.

“I think, eventually, that wears off on the horses and they get used to the hard work and the best ones seem to thrive on it.”

He says the extended seasons for two and three year olds in New zealand is also having a detrimental effect.

“We start earlier than they do in Australia but race too far into the season. I am a great believer in giving horses a decent spell but it is getting harder and harder to do that.

“I love the fact we have the Harness Jewels but it is too late in the season and then you even have some horses go to the Breeders Crown in Australia.

“So many of them burn out. We used to have an entourage of open-class horses, now we struggle to fill the best races. It is manageable but to do that you have to be brave and let your horse miss some big races.”

Purdon himself does have a runner in the Interdominion pacing series, Pembrook Benny which drew barrier one for tonight so is a good chance to work his way into the final on April 8th.

“I was thrilled with his run in the Auckland Cup because he worked early and was a clear third,” Purdon said.

 ”And I’d love to think he could win this series. But if he ended up parked in the final outside a horse like Mr Feelgood or Smoken Up I think I’d close my eyes and pretend it wasn’t happening.”

Nothing is certain in harness racing though and with the final still a good two weeks away Aussies shouldn’t be counting their win just yet.

One thing’s for sure though, it’s going to take a monster effort from any New Zealand horse to develop the courage and intestinal fortitude to match it with any of our best harness racers.

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From gate seven in the unanimously agreed toughest heat he’ll need to work hard if it’s going to notch up a record six appearances in Interdominion grand finals.

His trainer and driver Natalie Rasmussen said her pacer had had an ideal lead up after arriving in Auckland last Thursday.

“I would’ve loved a better draw, but he seems really well and I’m sure he’ll improve a lot on whatever he does this week,” she said.

His major rival in the race is expected to be Auckland Cup and WA Cup winner Themightyquinn.

The top Victorian horse Smoken Up had far more luck and could make the first move of the series.

The Lance Justice trained runner will tsrat form gate six but with questions rising about Auckland Reactor he’s a good chance to take up the lead.

“He handled the trip across really well and the draw is another big plus,” Justice said.

 ”It’s all falling into place, at least at this stage.”

Auckland Reactor is said to only be a 50 percent chance to start the race with a final decision expected from Mark Purdon any minute.

Smoken Up had his chances lifted even further when Mr Feelgood and Villagem drew gates 10 and 11 on the back row.

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On Friday night fans can catch a glimpse of the brilliant Smoken Up as he contests the $20,000 SEW-Eurodrive Sokyola Sprint (1720m) at Kilmore Tabcorp Park in Victoria.

The Lance Justice-trained and driven super star looks well positioned to break his recent succession of frustrating minor placings to secure his 34^th career win as the Tinted Cloud gelding has secured the prized inside running with barrier one.

Sure to start as the hot odds-on favourite, Smoken Up will face some truly classy competitors, including stablemate Our Malabar.

Coming off two successive victories in the Inter Dominion consolation and the Geelong Cup, the son of Live Or Die will be driven by Gavin Lang on Friday night and has drawn barrier four as he hopes to achieve a hat-trick of wins.

Both of Justice’s runners are using the Sokyola Sprint as a preparatory race for the $100,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile, the prestigious invitation only event to be run next week.

Other gun pacers with claims are Karlsruhe out the back in barrier eight who defeated Smoken Up last start and previous Victoria Derby winner Tanabi Bromac in barrier six back from a campaign in the ‘Aple Isle’.

The highlight event of an entertaining nine-race card, the 2010 SEW-Eurodrive Sokyola Sprint is due to jump at 9:12pm as race six. Other features on the night will be the $20,000 Mittys Youthful Stakes (Race 3) and for the trotting enthusiasts the $20,000 Group 3 Uncle Petrika Trotters Free For All (Race 8).

2010 SEW-Eurodrive Sokyola Sprint Final Field & Barriers

The David Aiken-trained Karlsruhe ($7.20) raced out wide to snare victory from the Lance Justice-trained and driven favourite Smoken Up ($1.40) by racings closest margin, a short half-head, with Pacific Charm ($16.90) who used the sprint lane just over four metres back in third.

It was a frustrating result for recent millionaire Smoken Up who has finished in the placings without a win in his last eight from nine races.

Make Waves took advantage of their number one barrier to lead early on, still sitting at the front on the bell. Following closely was the short priced favourite Smoken Up with Pacific Charm on the pegs running third with just under a lap to go.

With 800m left to travel Karlsruhe was sitting second last, driven patiently by David Moran.

Make Waves held a four metre lead to Smoken Up with 600m to go. Heading into the straight Smoken Up accelerated closing the gap between him and the leader, while Pacific Charm went into the express lane and Karlsruhe was running four deep.

On the final straight Karlsruhe had a brilliant run out wide. Smoken Up hit the lead but Karlsruhe put in a gallant chase and came head-to-head with the favourite finishing in nearly a dead heat. There was nothing in it, Karlsruhe just managing victory by a short half head while pacemaker Make Waves faded to finish seventh.

A fast paced race saw Karlsruhe run his career best winning mile rate of 1:54.2, which was 1.5s faster than the previous record shared by Tintin In America and Just Callme Cullen.

Karlsruhe has now won 18 of their 103 race starts for over $234, 000 in prizemoney.

Another major pacing event that took place on Friday night was the $20, 500 XXXX Gold Autumn Championship at Gloucester Park where the talented Tony Svilicich-trained Has The Answers ($1.20 fav) claimed an emphatic 8.4m victory ahead of Gee Whiz Fizz ($10.9) with the longest priced contender Dark Sky ($59.40) in third.

2010 SEW Eurodrive Markonvina Free For All Results:

A small but superior field of eight pacers are set to contest the Markovina FFA headlined by Lance Justice’s superstar Smoken Up.

The brilliant Tinted Cloud gelding pushed his career prizemoney to over $1 million last start when he ran a gallant third in the Group 1 Watpac Inter Dominion behind Blacks A Fake, becoming one of Australasia’s highest-earning standardbreds of all time.

Smoken Up, winner of 33 of his 71 career starts to date, has drawn on the outside-front-row with barrier seven on Saturday but his experience and ability mean he is still the hot favourite.

Rivals of Smoken Up who will be looking to sneak in with an upset win in the Free For All include Make Waves drawn well in barrier one, the Lisa Miles-trained and driven Pacific Charm in two and classy Live Or Die gelding Notaswethort coming off a third place in the Geelong Cup starting on the inside of Smoken Up in barrier six.

The other quality pacing feature to be held around the country on Friday night is the $20, 500 XXXX Gold Autumn Championship at Gloucester Park featuring Tealsby Karita and the gifted Has The Answers.

The 2010 Markovina Free For All will take place as the second race at Tabcorp Park’s excellent nine-event programme on Friday night and is due to commence at 7:10pm (VIC time).

The 2010 SEW Eurodrive Markovina Free For All Final Field & Barrier Draw:

Blacks A Fake ($3.70), trained and driven by Natalie Rasmussen, defeated the $2.20 favourite Monkey King by 2.7m with the Lance Justice’s Smoken Up ($25.50) a further 3.2m back in third.

The impressive Fake Left gelding has now won 61 of his 82 career starts, with the lucrative $500, 000 first prize for Saturday’s win elevating his total prizmoney earned to an imposing $4, 179, 693. Blacks A Fake is hands down the richest Australian pacer in history.

Blacks A Fake has competed in five Inter Dominions over his dazzling career, narrowly missing out on a perfect record in the prestigious event when he ran a gallant second to Mr Feelgood last year.

This year Mr Feelgood went out as a $17.20 chance but failed to fire after being restrained at the start of the race, finishing a dismal second last in ninth.

The unprecedented number of Inter Dominion wins wasn’t the only record Blacks A Fake broke on Sunday, he also ran a world time record for 2300m after posting a scintillating gross time of 2:42.6 for a mile rate of 1:53.8.

Click here for the official HRNSW media release on Blacks A Fake’s sensational 2010 Inter Dominion win including details on how the race went down.

Also held at Menangle on Sunday was the $60, 000 Inter Dominion Consolation where Lance Justice’s Live or Die gelding Our Malabar ($7.10) claimed a close half-neck victory ahead of another pacer from the Natalie Rasmussen stable, Western Cam ($3.70). The warm pre-race favourite Sammy Maguire ($2.70) was a further 5.5m back for third.

The other great group pacing feature held over the weekend was the $30, 000 Group 3 Bullock Consulting Devonport Cup. The testing 3020m standing start event was won by five-year-old Panorama gelding Sky Tower in a surprise victory that saw the $1.90 favourite Our Sir Jeckyl finish well back in eight.

2010 Inter Dominion Results:

Champion Blacks A Fake can now lay claim to being the best pacer of all time following his historic victory in the $1million Watpac Inter Dominion Grand Final at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Sunday afternoon.

Winning an unprecedented fourth Inter Dominion, Blacks A Fake did it the hard way by racing three-wide for the last 800 metres.

Washakie led from the pole for trainer-driver John McCarthy while Bondy (barrier eight) and Smoken Up (10) also showed speed and took up the one-one and spot outside the leader respectively.

The lead time was run in 48.0 and the first half in a quick 58.5 (30.0, 28.5).

Our Awesome Armbro sat behind the frontrunner while Atomic Ark, a stablemate of Blacks A Fake, was three-pegs with Blackie one-out two-back just in front of race favourite Monkey King with a lap to travel.

Changeover, Baileys Dream and Mr Feelgood bought up the tail with 800 metres to go.

Trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen put Blacks A Fake into the race with a half remaining, coming three-wide without cover with Ricky May (Monkey King) quickly seizing the chance to snare the trail.

With the third quarter in 28.3, the field packed up turning for home, with Washakie just in front of Smoken Up and Blacks A Fake looming up to them strongly.

Releasing the brakes on the nine-year-old, the son of Fake Left quickly pounced on the leaders and despite being challenged by Monkey King, produced his customary fight to hold his rival at the finish.

Smoke Up fought on gallantly to hold third, just in front of Changeover, who flashed home, with Bondy finishing fifth.

The final quarter of 27.9 produced a sensational 1:53.8 mile rate – a world record! The victory also saw Blacks A Fake become the richest standardbred of all time, with earnings of $4, 179, 693.

“What can I say? He is a sensational horse, I love him,” a delighted Rasmussen said after the event.

Defending champion driver Anthony Butt says one of his greatest foes could become his secret weapon as he defends his Inter Dominion title with Mr Feelgood on Sunday.

Last year’s winners on the Gold Coast heads into the $1 million WATPAC final at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, facing another potentially horror draw at barrier nine.

That is nothing new for Mr Feelgood, who was written off by many after drawing the second line draw last year, only for Butt to produce an inch-perfect drive to deny Blacks A Fake his Interdom fourth title on end.

Butt knows he will need the cards to fall his way on Sunday if he is to repeat last year’s victory but he believes he and Mr Feelgood have allies – in long-time rivals Lance Justice and Smoken Up.

Smoken Up has drawn barrier 10 and like Mr Feelgood may have little option but to retreat at the start of the 2300m event and attack later.

“If Lance does that, and I am thinking he probably will, then we might get a cart into the race on his back,” says Butt.

“And that would be a good place to be. I think there could be a fair bit of speed early, with Washakie eventually holding the lead.

“So there isn’t much point most of us out wide getting involved early when we can make one long move mid-race.

“If that happens then I think the race might be a bit more even then people think and we have a show.”

Butt was thrilled with how Mr Feelgood fought on for second after setting up a track record for Blacks A Fake at Newcastle last Saturday night.

“That is not the ideal way to drive him but I knew I needed points to make the final so we couldn’t afford to be unlucky.

“But he actually fought on really well and he is racing as good now as when he won the final last season.

“We just have to hope for the same type of mid-race pressure.”

Butt rates Monkey King the horse to beat on Sunday but says the gap between the favourites and the outsiders is smaller than many people realise.

“What about a horse like Our Awesome Armbro? He could be doing no work in the trail and that is a huge advantage at this level.

“I think the great thing about this year’s final is the horses are all going in there in form and there won’t be drivers going out there thinking they have no hope.

“So it should be a beauty. While Monkey King is the horse to beat but when you look back to his Miracle Mile win in November he had the perfect run and only just got there.

“That proves how tough it is to win these big races.”

Mr Feelgood has come in for some support at long odds since Monday night’s barrier draw, as has Hunter Cup winner Bondy.

That has seen Monkey King out to $2.50 with TAB Sportsbet while Washakie has drifted from $3.80 to $4.

The final of the $1 million WATPAC Inter Dominion for 2010 will be run at 5pm Sunday March 7.