Victa Damian sizzles in Howard Ashton heats
The heats of the Group 3 Howard Ashton headlined the 12-race program at Angle Park on Thursday with Victa Damian stealing the show with a piece of history as he equaled the track record.
After unofficially breaking the track record in a recent trial, all eyes were on the promising chaser in heat two and he did not disappoint, stopping the clock in 29.86 to equal the track record set by Wow She’s Fast in September last year.
Drawing box seven, he was last away in the field but quickly mustered his way to second before the first turn before working its way past Victa Tara down the back straight.
Once in the lead, all eyes turned to the clock with Victa Damian equaling the track record in recording an 11-length victory.
It was an 11th career win from just 17 starts for the Lisa Rasmussen- trained chaser and all eyes will be on next week’s semifinals to see if he can go even faster.
Heat three saw a Tony Rasmussen trifecta with Victa Marli winning from kennel mates Victa Speed and Victa Tony.
Jumping from box one, Victa Marli led to the first corner and was never troubled holding the chasing pack at bay to win by two and a half lengths in 30.45, which was the second fastest heat time on the night.
In heat one, the Tim Richards-trained Coorong Cam claimed victory beating the well-tried Victa Alby.
Drawn in box one, Coorong Cam jumped well and held Victa Alby out on the first corner before keeping a narrow advantage down the back straight.
While Victa Alby loomed large around the final bend, Coorong Cam found a final effort kicking away to win by a quarter of a length in a time of 30.50.
Coorong Cam was one of three winners on the night for Richards with He’s All Purpose leading from start to finish in the Sky Racing Stake over 595m in a competitive race which looms as a good form guide for the Shane McQueen heats later this month.
He’s on Fire then completed the treble in race eight winning The Dogcast Mixed Stake after overcoming a difficult box five draw with a blistering 5.09 first section.
One of the most eye-catching runs of the night was the first starter Where’s Poppy who was a convincing winner for trainer Kirin Corby.
Jumping from box four in race two, Where’s Poppy led to the first turn before blitzing the field with a 12.91 final section to win by 12- and three-quarter lengths.
Racing returns to headquarters on Saturday morning with a 10-race program kicking off at 7:52am local time.
The semifinals of the Group 3 Howard Ashton will be run at Angle Park next Thursday night.