INJURED Melton trainer-driver Lance Justice will wait until after today’s barrier draw before deciding on a new reinsman for Smoken Up in the group 1 $125,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup.
Justice needs a replacement for previous stand-in Greg Sugars.
Not surprisingly, Sugars is sticking with boom four-year-old Sushi Sushi for Saturday night’s grand circuit event.
Sugars steered Smoken Up to victory in the South Australian Cup in his latest start. Justice is out of the sulky after breaking his ankles in a race fall at Melton.
He hopes to fit in time to take the reins on Smoken Up in the Inter-Dominion Pacing Championship in Perth in February-March.
Smoken Up and Sushi Sushi head 16 nominations, which closed yesterday, for the Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2710m.
The field will be declared and the barrier draw will take place at a Ballarat and District Trotting Club breakfast at Bray Raceway this morning.
Four New Zealanders in Gold Ace, Auckland Reactor, Highview Tommy and Pembrook Benny are also among nominations with hometown pacers Decorated Jasper and Amadmancomesundon, and Ballarat-owned New South Wales visitor Hesa Buzzin.
Luckless in Saturday night’s Shepparton Pacing Cup, Hesa Buzzin is a full brother to 2007 Ballarat Pacing Cup winner Sting Lika Bee.
Decorated Jasper is a last-start Bendigo Pacing Cup winner for Ross Creek trainer and BDTC chief executive officer Paul Rowse, while Amadmancomesundone is from the Delacombe stable of Craig Knowles.
Saturday night’s 10-race program will also feature the $20,000 standing start feature, The Pure Steel, 2710m, and three $20,000 second round heats of the Inter-Dominion Trotting Championship, 2710m.
As an added bonus for racegoers, there will be a non-TAB monte saddle trot.
CUP NOMINATIONS:
Amadmancomesundone (Craig Knowles)
Auckland Reactor (Mark Purdon, NZ)
Captain Joy (Susan Hunter)
Decorated Jasper (Paul Rowse)
Gold Ace (Steven Reid, NZ)
Hesa Buzzin (Ian Wilson, NSW)
Hezatrick (Glenn Douglas)
Highview Tommy (Mark Purdon, NZ)
Lets Slash And Burn (Geoff Webster)
Melpark Major (Alan Tubbs)
Mister Grizzly (Tony Pullicino)
Our Malabar (Lance Justice)
Pembroke Benny (Mark Purdon, NZ)
Smoken Up (Lance Justice)
Sushi Sushi (Freddy Taiba)
Villagem (Lisa Miles)
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