'Shaka' on song!

VICTORIA?S champion Shakamaker will be out to use this Saturday night?s $50,000 Campbells Cash & Carry Legends Mile at Moonee Valley as a vital stepping stone to Miracle Mile success in Sydney later this month. Shakamaker, who drew ideally at No 3 in the mobile mile (1609m) sprint, has won the last two renewals of the Legends, and will shoot for an unprecedented hat trick of wins in the race. Two years ago Shakamaker ran a race record 1:55 to win his first Legends and he backed up again 12 months ago to score in 1:56.2. Trainer-driver John Justice said that ?Shaka? had thrived since his recent return from a luckless Queensland campaign, which saw him finish second and fourth in respective feature events behind the high-flying local Double Identity. ?Yes, that draw (No 3) certainly brought a smile to my face,? Justice said on hearing of Shakamaker?s draw in the Legends. ?His work has been very good since he got back, and I can?t fault him now.? Justice said that Shakamaker performed well in Queensland, but did not have the necessary fitness base to beat the hot competition like Double Identity, who had been in stellar form during the Queensland Winter Carnival. ?Luck was against us up there, but, having said that, his fitness wasn?t quite where I wanted it to be,? he said. ?It?s easy to say that in hindsight, but he?s a year older now and takes a bit more to get ready. And there?s nothing like racing. ?All going well after Saturday I?d like to target the Miracle Mile. It fits in well with his program and he?d probably have one more run before heading to Sydney, if we?re luck enough to be invited.? Justice?s brother, Lance, won the inaugural Legends Mile in 1989 with the outstanding South Australian speedster Tip Top Prince, and this year has another worthy representative in the in-form up-and-comer Jamestown. Fresh from a track record-breaking 1:55.3 mile at Kilmore, Jamestown will begin from barrier two, outside the tough Andy Gath-trained stayer Hearts Legend. Another interesting runner is the North American import Lifes Not Fair (No 4), while Revonez, who boasts a win over Shakamaker already this season, will begin from barrier five. Other noted speedsters engaged in the Legends are Wally Walton (No 6), Troublesome Fella (No 8) and Ablazin Star (ODM). A selection of Victoria?s top trotters - including Stoned At Midnight, Twebby Twotter, Diamond Trot and Stirling Kiwi - will clash in an early feature on the program, the $15,000 Crisco ? The George Gath. Last year Alabamas Idol won The George Gath in the hands of Gavin Lang, who this time will take the ribbons behind Diamond Trot. Grant Campbell will pilot Alabama Idol this weekend for trainers Danny and Gill Norris. The field for the $50,000 Campbells Cash & Carry Legends Mile is: 1- 113 HEARTS LEGEND (1) M2 Kerryn Gath 2- s14 JAMESTOWN (2) M2 Lance Justice 3- 124 SHAKAMAKER (3) M21 John Justice 4- 556 LIFES NOT FAIR USA (4) M4 Chris Alford 5- 273 REVONEZ (5) M8 Ian McMahon 6- s21 WALLY WALTON (6) M7 Matthew Gath 7- 233 HUNKA HUNKLING (7) M1 Gavin Lang --------------- Second Row ------------------------------------------ 8- 553 TROUBLESOME FELLA (8) M4 Ross Payne 9- 604 ABLAZIN STAR (ODM) M5 Kerryn Gath