STAND in driver John Justice has threatened to declare war on any driver that dares to hamper Smoken Up’s charge for the early lead in tonight’s Inter Dominion final at Gloucester Park in Perth.

Justice is unbeaten in four drives on Smoken Up including the three qualifying heats of the Inter Dominion where the horse has worked to the lead and outstayed his rivals.

He has taken the reins while his brother Lance, who also trains the horse, is out of the sulky with serious injuries received in a fall at Melton earlier this year.

Speaking at Melton yesterday before leaving for Perth, Justice said: “I haven’t spoken to Lance yet, but I’d imagine it will be the usual tactics.”

Everybody, especially tonight’s opposing drivers, knows what those tactics are.

Go hard early and if they fight to hold the lead just keep on pressing.

Smoken Up is a warrior and he can apply those tactics and still win but God help anyone who tries to hold him off.

If anybody is likely to offer an early challenge it may come from John McCarthy who steers the polemarker Mr Feelgood and there would be no other horse that the Justice camp would like to drive into the ground.

The American import won last year’s Inter Dominion after Smoken Up was disqualified for returning a positive swab.

Mr Feelgood returned to his best  in his heat last week and he has shortened to third favourite at $5.50 on Sportingbet fixed odds market.

A major concern for Smoken Up is his ability to handle the tight, flat turns at Gloucester Park.

A similar flat turn cost his defeat in the recent Ballarat Cup and although he is unbeaten there the turns at Gloucester Park are not his favourite.

Justice said: “I’d like it if the track was bigger but you have to work with what you have got.”

If Mr Feelgood hands up the early lead there is a strong chance that with the pressure of an Inter Dominion final that Smoken Up may drift off the track on the home turn and present the race to him.

The one the punters want is local star Im Themightyquinn who is now odds-on at $1.95.

He is likely to drop back early and he would be the one to benefit most from a battle for the lead.

Top New Zealad hope Auckland Reactor ($7.00) is also unbeaten in his three heats and he too will more than likely drop back early and the whoever wins the battle of tactics between his driver Anthony Butt and Gary Hall jr on Im Themightyquinn will play a major role in the result.

Im Themightyquinn has consistently been the fastest in the run home three all three heats but he has got away with some easy early sectionals.

There will be no easy sectionals in tonight’s final.

Here is how the four main chances have performed in their heats:

The final field with Sportingbet markets is:

INTER DOMINION FINAL - 9.10pm Perth time. Gloucester Park. Race 7.

THE second round of heats for the 2012 Inter Dominion has done little to sort out the three way logjam in the search for this year’s final winner.

Superstar pacer Smokin Up, local champ Im Themightyquinn and New Zealand star Auckland Reactor remain unbeaten after winning their heats and that trio look to have the race between them.

Edging slightly back into the mix was another Kiwi with Raglan benefiting from a more tactful drive from Anthony Butt when he led to win the first of four heats on Monday night.

Raglan looked in danger of missing a spot in the final when he finished down the track last Friday after Butt allowed himself to get pocketed in going down the back straight and from there he never got a shot at them.

But in a heat where Raglan ($1.80 fav.) ran back into contention another star was virtually eliminated when Washakie ($2.80) faded badly and finished a disappointing last.

Auckland Reactor ($1.60 fav.) was untroubled to lead throughout in his heat but like last Friday’s win he was more solid than impressive.

He went to the line 2.1 metres ahead of Mr Feelgood ($5.00) who did plenty of work in the run.

Smoken Up ($1.10 fav.) was his usual self in the third heat.

He worked to the front early but looked in trouble when he was headed by Crombie ($12.60) at the top of the straight but in his standard style he lifted when challenged and kicked back to win by 1.67 metres.

The pride of Perth Im Themightyquinn ($1.10 fav.) maintained his awesome record on the tight Gloucester Park circuit with an easy win in the final heat but not before giving his supporters a scare.

As Anthony Butt did with Raglan last Friday, Gary Hall jr. allowed Im Themightyquinn to be pocketed going into the back straight but he bustled his way clear and soon reeled in the leaders.

The third and final round of heats will be decided this Friday with the final a week later on March 2.