The grand circuit debut of Sushi Sushi is one of the most anticipated events in Australasian harness racing in the past decade.

Taking on Smoken Up would be the toughest possible initiation and also an opportunity to make the biggest possible impact.

Sushi Sushi is the heir apparent to Smoken Up’s number one mantle, with the four-year-old boasting 22 wins in 30 starts for almost $900,000.

Sushi Sushi is a five-time group 1 winner and is on a winning streak of 15, not losing since his two-year-old season.

Smoken Up is an all-time great with 55 wins and $2.8 million in earnings.

While Melton trainer Lance Justice is fully committed to lining up Smoken Up in the group 1 $125,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup, 2710m, on Saturday, January 28, Sushi Sushi’s immediate future has been the subject of conjecture.

Early last week Sushi Sushi’s connections ruled out running in the cup, but late yesterday a start in Ballarat was back on the agenda.

Harness Racing Victoria’s Jason Bonnington told The Courier that the Sushi Sushi camp had confirmed as a Ballarat Pacing Cup starter.

Bonnington said he had had two conversations with Sushi Sushi connections yesterday and on each occasion Ballarat was firmly the destination.

He said as far as he was concerned there was no doubt Sushi Sushi would be lining up in the Ballarat Pacing Cup.

Ballarat and District Trotting Club chief executive officer Paul Rowse said a clash between Smoken Up and Sushi Sushi would be massive for Ballarat, as well as the industry as a whole.

Smoken Up took out his third South Australian Cup on Saturday night and will not race again until Ballarat.

Sushi Sushi has raced twice this season and is set to make his return in a low-key affair at Melton on Friday night.

Rowse admitted that not that long ago he was concerned about the depth of likely cup starters. He is now confident the field will be as strong as ever.

Rowse said 2008 Victoria Cup winner Melpark Major was a confirmed starter.

Boasting 31 wins and $830,000 in stakes, this will be Melpark Major’s first start in a Ballarat Pacing Cup.

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