WATCH: Justice takes trip down memory lane before Shaka’s race

Some stars pass through harness racing stables and can be quickly placed to the back of the memory bank as the next wave of horses arrive to take their place.

But that’s certainly not the case with the late Shakamaker, who remains a heroic figure at John Justice’s Toolern Vale property.

Signs, newspaper clippings and pictures are everywhere to be seen and a plaque remains attached to the front of the box he occupied through a glorious racetrack career that spanned 1998 to 2003.

In all, the horse they simply called “Shaka” won 46 races and well over $2million, including an Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final at Moonee Valley in 2000.

That success remains a career highlight for Justice, who took time to reflect on his champ before the race named in his honour is run this Saturday night at Melton.

“It was a childhood dream,” Justice said.

“It’s what every kid that starts driving dreams of doing, driving an Inter Dominion winner.

“I showed emotions you don’t normally show…”

WATCH THE FULL SHAKAMAKER FEATURE BELOW:

The Shakamaker Classic was first held in 2004 and boasts a star-studded honour roll that includes Ananz (2008), Restrepo (2011), Centenario (2018), Be Happy Mach (2019) and Bar Room Banta (2020).

For two-year-old pacers, this Saturday night’s edition has drawn a field of six, with Emma Stewart-trained Petracca set to run the short-priced favourite.

After a couple of impressive trial performances, the son of Captaintreacherous was a big winner in a heat of the Bathurst Gold Crown before an eye-catching third from back in the field in the Group 1 final last Friday.

The $24,000 feature is one of the highlights on Saturday night’s card, alongside the Group 3 Uncle Petrika Trotters Free For All and Colin Redwood Memorial VSTA Trotters Handicap Final.

Champion driver Anthony Butt will join the TrotsVision team alongside Rob Auber and caller Dan Mielicki, with the nine-race card kicking off at 6.04pm.