SA trio set for Group 2 Flying Amy.
South Australian greyhounds will feature prominently in Queensland on Thursday night with three chasers headlined by rising star Victa Damian set to compete in the final of the Group 2 Flying Amy at Albion Park.
Victa Damian will start favourite for the $225.000 race and will be joined by littermates Victa Marli and Victa Alby with all three dogs trained by veteran SA duo Tony and Lisa Rasmussen.
“I am very happy about having three in the final,” Tony Rasmussen said.
“I am very surprised I have got three in; I was hoping to have Victa Damian and Victa Alby in there, but it was a bit of a surprise with Victa Marli but I am very happy the result.”
Victa Damian will be hard to beat in the final and is building a resume as one of Australia’s best greyhounds having recorded 14 wins from just 20 starts.
He claimed the Group 1 National Derby in Sydney in January and also won the Group 3 Howard Ashton final at Angle Park which including equalling the track record in his heat.
“The sky is the limit with him as long as we keep him sound,” Rasmussen said.
“I think he is a dog of the future and he is coming through and we are taking him quietly and not rushing him along.”
“His box manners aren’t great, but his back section is just enormous and I have never had a dog that can power down the back like he does.”
Despite being a $1.40 favourite in his heat, Victa Damian had to overcome trouble on the first turn but powered down the back before overtaking the leader in the home straight to win in 30.03.
“I was in the catching pen and when he came past me, I thought we are gone here,” he said.
“He just had that enormous acceleration down the back and he showed his class and what sort of quality dog he is.”
Victa Damian has drawn box two in the final with Victa Alby in box three and Victa Marli in box eight with each dog holding a winning chance in the race.
“In big race Finals box draws don't really matter all that much, I don't think,” Rasmussen says.
“I would have preferred to have had Victa Damian out wide, but at the end of the day, if he gets a clean run and does not get interfered with too much, he will just win that race.”