2018 SA St Leger taken out by Victa Louise
VICTA Louise (Fabregas x Victa Brooke Jun '16) added her name alongside some of the greats such as Head Honcho, Worm Burner and On Fire when saluting in Thursday's SA St Leger (515m) at Angle Park.
Jumping from box six Victa Louise got clear room to move early and quickly scorched her way to the front of the pack, kicking clear around the first turn.
Despite the best efforts of her rivals the black bitch was far too nippy, crossing the line two and one quarter lengths clear of Long Gully Gus (Kc And All x Long Gully Libby Aug '15) in a best of night 29.80.
Fabwik (Fabregas x Wikena Feb '16) ran a great race to finish third, four lengths off the Robyn Mackellar-trained winner.
“She did everything right – we are absolutely thrilled with her,” Mackellar told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“It was a massive effort from her. It was a three-week series up against some of the best young dogs in the state, but she doesn't turn two until June so she was giving away plenty of age and experience.
“Every week she just kept getting a little bit better – you can't ask for much more than that.”
Victa Louise has now won eight races from 11 starts, with Thursday's winner's cheque taking her earnings above $15,000.
Mackellar said the win was a massive thrill for her owners, Ron and Joan Schadow, who also bred the talented speedster.
“They were over the moon – to see them smiling like they were makes it all worth it.
“They had their daughters and their grandkids there last night, so it was pretty special to have everyone there cheering and screaming her on.”
Having previously compared Victa Louise to her former group winning sprinter Fabregal, Mackellar said she is keen to travel interstate with her bonny bitch this year.
Her major target is likely to be the Group 2 Bogie Leigh Queensland Futurity in April, however there is also a race closer to home that Mackellar has on the radar before then.
“We've got the SA Breeders series coming up in March so that will probably be her next goal.
“She is in at Gawler on Tuesday where she has drawn box seven and then after that she'll probably have a bit of time off before the Breeders series.
“The trick will be placing her well now – I don't want to knock her confidence around before we go after some of the bigger races.”
Mackellar still doesn't want to get too excited about the future, but admits there is no telling how far the 20-month old could go with a bit more age and maturity.
“We are just taking her along at this stage and she is loving what she is doing – each race she is becoming more professional.
“I am just absolutely stoked with her so fingers crossed she can keep going and doing what she is already doing.”