Sad passing of dual Miracle Mile winner

AS the industry prepares to celebrate another Miracle Mile winner next week, one of the prestigious sprint's greatest performers has been laid to rest.

Hampered by the effects of sidewinder syndrome, Sokyola was humanely put at ease by the trainer who took him to grand heights, Lance Justice, this afternoon.

Sidewinder syndrome is a severe gait abnormality in horses, where the hindquarters, pelvis, and trunk uncontrollably drift or "swing" to one side while the front legs move normally.

"It was heartbreaking to see the old champ the way he was, so the tough decision had to be made," Justice said.

"You could see two sides of him in his eyes. One where his mind still wanted to play in his paddock but his body wouldn't let him and another where you could see 'Father time' had caught up with him.

"The damage from sidewinder syndrome got to the point he could hardly eat and my daughter Leilani had to lean against him to keep him straight enough to eat.

"He had a great career and an even better retirement, but at 29, he's passing the post for the last time."

Joining Justice’s team as a nuggetty three-year-old in 2000, Sokyola made a quick transition through the grades, winning 25 of his first 36 starts.

Mixed form resulted in an operation to correct a wind problem in 2002, with the flashy chestnut returning in devastating fashion.

Racing his way to the top of the national scene, Sokyola set numerous records while capturing features such as the Victoria Cup, Legends Mie, Sunshine Sprint and Brisbane Winter Cup.

It was the gelding's Miracle Mile victories, however, which sealed his status as a modern day great.

With Justice in the cart, Sokyola led throughout the 2003 edition, rating 1:54.6 over 1760 metres.

“I remember as a kid watching stars like Paleface Adios, Pure Steel and Young Quinn winning the Miracle Mile and it was the race I wanted to win the most,” Justice said. “I can still see the bright red Craven Filter Mobile leading the field to the starting point.

“The Miracle Mile is the race everybody wanted to win and still is.

“Even being born in Victoria and raised in South Australia and all the big races those states had, it was the Miracle Mile for me.

“The night I finally won it, that’s the night I felt like I had made it and it was all thanks to Sokyola.”

Justice was suspended the following year, with Jodi Quinlan stepping in to partner the son of Soky's Atom to score in 1:54.9.

Sokyola became just the fourth pacer to register consecutive Miracle Mile wins since its inception in 1967.

Crowned Australian Horse of the Year in 2004 and 2005 – having also taken Victorian honours in those season’s – Sokyola was renowned for his toughness, which saw him affectionately-known as ‘The Melton Mauler.’

In a fairytale end to his career, Sokyola captured the free-for-all at Moonee Valley on June 22, 2007.

Victorious at 77 of his 160 starts, with 42 placings also to his credit, Sokyola earned $1,880,865 – making him Australasia’s ninth richest pacer upon retirement.

Sokyola was also seventh as the nation’s most successful standardbred based on wins.

"I had a good horse in Whirley Dream before him and a champion in Smoken Up after him, but Sokyola will always be that special horse," Justice said. "He is the one which set the scene for me after I moved back to Victoria.

"Without him, I probably wouldn't have had Smoken Up for example.

"He'll always be special to us and I'm honoured to have had him around for so long."