Trots superstar Smoken Up will be celebrated throughout Saturday night, with Lance Justice’s champ to lead out the race named in his honour and a special edition t-shirt to be released.
The TAB Smoken Up Sprint headlines an outstanding card at Tabcorp Park Melton and has lured some of the nation’s finest, who are hoping to nab spots in the October 8 Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup.
And so it’s only fitting that fan favourite Smoken Up will be in the centre of the spotlight, with his former trainer-driver and now mate Justice to steer the champ back on to the track ahead of the 8.58pm Group 2.
“It’s a great honour and I think it’s fantastic that the race is named after him,” Justice said.
“It’s an honoured race and is used as a lead up to the big race, the Victoria Cup, and to have him there to lead them out is a just an absolute bonus.”
When not on the track Smoken Up will stand in stall 61 on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton, where fans are welcome to drop in and see the champ.
Justice said there were “no bad traits about Trigger”, as Smoken Up is also known, an opinion shared among his many followers who will no doubt clamour to snap up some special edition merchandise.
Part of a new Harness Racing Victoria venture, the retro t-shirts, called Back Track, will celebrate iconic harness racing champions through playful creative concepts.
The ‘Smoken’ t-shirts are fittingly the first to launch, with more to come. To get yours go to thetrots.shop and pre-order.
Ahead of the big race night, which also features the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks heats and Downbytheseaside Victoria Derby heats, Kima Frenning caught up with Justice to talk about Smoken Up.
Enjoy part one of the special celebration below.
