Saturday night’s Hyland Harness Colours Group 3 Smoken Up Sprint is set to paint a vivid picture of what we can expect heading into October 12's Sportsbet Victoria Cup.

The race named after the champion pacer has continued to grow since its inception in 2014, with the likes of Lennytheshark and Bling It On featuring on the honour roll.

Smoken Up's trainer and regular driver Lance Justice has fond memories of his time spent with the winner of over $3million in prizemoney.

"He was an absolute legend, and I wish he was still racing," Justice said. "He was a champion and he is now apart of the Hall of Fame - he was one of the best."

Justice, 66, says one moment sits above all others in Smoken Up's illustrious 74-win and 153-start career.

"He was the first horse to break the 1.50 (mile rate) mark in Australia and the southern hemisphere," he said.

"He could sit outside some of the best horses in the biggest sprint races and beat the very best.

"He never let me down. Even when we got beat, it was my fault we got beat. Not his."

Smoken Up and Justice combined to win the Victoria Cup in 2011, beating the likes of Mr Feelgood and Im Themightyquinn.

"I should have won two," Justice laughed. "He was so good in that Victoria Cup in 2011."

The 2023 Gordon Rothacker Medal winner is eagerly anticipating this year's race, with Australia's most exciting pacer Leap To Fame set to start from barrier seven on Saturday night at Melton Entertainment Park.

"It is going to be a cracking race," Justice said. "It is not going to be easy for Leap To Fame - over the 1700m, you can't go back in the field.

"You are going to have to come forward. It is not going to be easy for him and it is a good field."

The $50,000 Hyland Harness Colours Smoken Up Sprint is set to go at 6.35pm.