3 minute read
Prior to Saturday nights Derby Final at Wentworth Park the experts in the game had one question. Just how good is Victa Damian. For Tony Rasmussen it was a simple answer. Ability wise he could be the best dog he has ever put a race collar on.
Victa Damian shocked the New South Wales greyhound community with a scintillating 29.44 heat win. For such a young dog the son of champion sire Fernando Bale put everyone on notice with the run. He was the fastest qualifier for the Derby by some lengths.
Not even drawing box five in the final could stop him, as he set the track on fire once again with another mind boggling 29.47 in the final. Beating the likes of talented dogs Starline Express and Rockstar Apollo,the win even more sensational considering the 30 hour round trip the Rasmussen's and Victa Damian had under taken each week.
Tony and Lisa Rasmussen have won 6 Adelaide training premierships.Originally from New Zealand the husband and wife team have been the face of greyhound racing in South Australia for many years. Victa Damian's win in the Group One Derby provided the couple with their first ever Group One.
The Rasmussen's sat down with the owners of Victa Damian many months ago to seriously discuss a program for the talented dog as he continued to improve with each run. The plan was to target an age classic event. In a scary statistic Victa Damian is not two years of age yet he is showing maturity beyond his years.
Before the Derby final on Saturday he had set the clock on fire at Angle Park with two amazing runs of 30.08 and 30.03. His prior best being a run of 30.27 at the Angle Park track. The continued improvement clearly showing that it's not clear just how much more the Blue Brindle Dog just may improve.
His runs at Wentworth Park during the fortnight of the Derby series prove one thing, on time alone he is up with the best that have run at Wentworth park in the past six months time wise. That includes the likes of champion bitch She's A Pearl. The Rasmussen's have obviously managed his career to date so that he is not knocked about as he learns his trade.
The million dollar question is how much longer will the Rasmussen's perservere with long 30 hour round trips while coming to Victoria and New South Wales alike. Is it just a matter of time before Victa Damian heads to the Eastern seaboard to be trained here or will the Rasmussen's keep long term control of the super dog.
It's a very tough decision as sadly South Australian greyhound racing cannot provide long term, the type of earnings the dog could potentially make racing in New South Wales or Victoria. One thing is for sure. If Victa Damian continues this rich vien of form he could easily be remembered like past South Australian champions Golden Mike, Raven Kelly and Ultra Noir.
The future is bright for the Blue Brindle dog, and regardless of his future racing, The Rasmussen's are to be acknowledged for nurturing his potential. His win in the Derby at Wentworth Park was one for the ages. The margin of the victory being one of the largest in Derby history. Even better than that of his champion father Fernando Bale who won the Derby himself.
