Despite being a dual Group 1 winner, the lightning son of Tinted Cloud remains one of Australia’s most celebrated big-race bridesmaids courtesy of minor placings in the Victoria, Hunter and New Zealand Cups as well as an Inter Dominion final and the recent Miracle Mile.

Justice is confident Smoken Up can shed this tag forever in the Group 1 classic.

“He’s trained on fantastically,” Justice said referring to his star’s progression from a tough second placing in the Miracle Mile.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had him as fit as he is now. He’s just so well and I know he’ll run a big race.”

It would be a second success for Justice in Victoria’s most revered mobile start event and it is clear he feels that Smoken Up is closing in on his first winner – grand pacer Sokyola.

“I won it with Sokyola and that was a fantastic feeling,” he said. “I hope I can do it with this horse as well because I think he deserves to win a big race.

“He’s done a great job, he’s run a lot of placings and been a bridesmaid in a lot of big races. It would be fitting for him to win the Victoria Cup, that’s for sure.”

Chief among the seven-year-old gelding’s many weapons heading into this weekend’s race is his pole draw, which when coupled with natural gate speed should see the horse in his preferred front-running role for much, if not all, of the 2240-metre trip.

“When you’ve got such a group of champion horses, any advantage you can get is great,” Justice said. “To draw barrier one with a horse that’s got good gate speed is a huge advantage.

“He’s a horse that likes to lead – he’ll be out there high-balling and whatever finishes in front of him will be the winner, but I think they’ll have a hard job to catch him.”

TAB Sportsbet have installed Australia’s fastest pacer a $2.30 favourite in a race that also features triple Inter Dominion winner Blacks A Fake, BIG6 Hunter Cup hero Mr Feelgood and defending champion Melpark Major.

The SEW-Eurodrive Victoria Cup is the star attraction on a stunning night of harness racing for purists and punters alike at Tabcorp Park and will be run at 9.40pm.