After just 11 starts, boom South Australian sprinter Victa Damian is challenging for Group 1 Sportsbet Australian Cup favouritism ahead of Saturday night’s ‘must win’ heats at The Meadows.
Trained by prolific husband-and-wife team, Tony and Lisa Rasmussen, Victa Damian will set out in pursuit of his second straight G1 title when he exits box one in the first of eight heats – race 4 at 7.39pm.
Victa Damian dominates Sportsbet’s market at $1.50, with Melbourne Cup finalist and last start G1 Rookie Rebel placegetter El Dorado (box 5) the $4.60 second elect.
The son of Fernando Bale and Victa Polly, which celebrates his second birthday on Friday, also shares ‘All In’ favouritism at $5 with Amron Boy, shading last weekend’s G1 Temlee winner Wow She’s Fast at $5.50.
“He’s a nice dog, with a nice box, but that surprises me a bit because of his age and experience,” Tony Rasmussen said.
“Wow She’s Fast is a legend. But I’m pretty proud of it!”
“We wouldn’t put him in an Australian Cup unless we thought he was good enough, with a bit of luck on his side. You always need luck.
“He’s a special dog. He’s the best dog I’ve ever had a collar and lead on; he’s the best dog the Rasmussen family has ever had a collar and lead on.
“He’s a very exciting dog for us. Lisa and I are still a bit shocked about what he’s doing.
WATCH: SA young gun VICTA DAMIAN (B5) stamped himself one of the most exciting greyhounds in the land with a runaway 29.47sec victory in the G1 National Derby at Wentworth Park on January 21.
“He’s our first Group 1 winner. We’ve been around the mark and had handy dogs like Honcho Monelli and Mallee Magic. We made the Australian Cup Final with Shima Breeze a couple of years ago (2019). She got in off the reserves’ bench but got into trouble on the first turn.”
Victa Damian’s eight wins, his past four in succession, are highlighted by a scorching 29.47sec victory in the G1 National Derby at Wentworth Park at his most recent appearance on January 21.
He’s since trialled in scintillating fashion at The Meadows, clocking 29.619sec.
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“I backed off him after he won the Derby; he’s still only a baby, he’s just a puppy,” Rasmussen explained.
“I wanted to give him an extra look at The Meadows, on his own, so nothing was knocking him around. I was hoping he’d go about 29.80sec, but he went 29.60sec!
“Other than the trip to Melbourne, I’ve done everything at home until Monday, when I gave him a hand-slip at Murray Bridge. They told me the track was ‘off’ but he smashed the clock!”
Interestingly, all three of Victa Damian’s career defeats have come at The Meadows, with his best effort a Grade 5 third, while he was beaten 14 lengths when fourth to Rejuvenate in a G1 Silver Chief heat in near-record time.
However, Rasmussen has put up his hand to take the blame.
“I took him over and put him in ‘blind’, which is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made,” Rasmussen admitted.
“He was just a young, green pup and it really bit me in the backside.
“His weight was all over the place at the time too. We got his weight right up in Sydney and he showed what he can do.
“Win, lose or draw in the Australian Cup, he’ll be going back to Sydney for the Golden Easter Egg next. He really likes that track and he’s proved he doesn’t mind travelling.”
