Queen Of Scotch, Victa Marli looking to pull off Futurity heist
Despite Lisa Rasmussen wanting Queen Of Scotch and Victa Marli to swap boxes, the co-trainer believes her runners can compete well in the Ladbrokes National Futurity Final at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Queen Of Scotch finished second in her heat in 30.44 seconds, and has $21 winning odds across betting sites.
She will start from the No.2 lane, while Victa Marli is $13 to prevail from the seven box having won her heat in 30.11 seconds.
Rasmussen said it would have been “the ultimate” if her two finalists had drawn opposite boxes, but still has faith they can be thereabouts at the finish — possibly alongside favourite Mortified ($2.20) for Chris O'Brien.
“(Queen Of Scotch) usually prefers out wide, so we would've liked her and Victa Marli to be swapped around,” Rasmussen told Australian Racing Greyhound ahead of the $100,850 feature over 520m.
“That would've been the ultimate. But she just likes to get up the track a little bit.
“We're just worried about what's going to happen at the first corner, but she's good.”
National Futurity Heat 1 replay – Queen Of Scotch (2nd)
Rasmussen was delighted with Queen Of Scotch's runner-up finish in her Futurity heat, crossing the line in 30.44 seconds in her preferred seven lane behind Wyndra All Class (29.88 seconds).
What was particularly classy was how she caught up to bigger and longer bitch Akii Princess on the back straight, before getting in front on the home straight and edging her out by half a length.
“Very proud of her. She's only a tiny little thing, and just for her owner too,” Rasmussen said.
Both Lisa and Tony Rasmussen were thrilled with the comprehensive nature of Queen Of Scotch's 6 ½-length win at maiden level in her first start at Angle Park on May 26 last year.
“She was a good maiden winner, and David Brasch even did an article on her after she won a maiden,” Lisa said.
“She was one of the first Of Scotches to win.”
As well as qualifying for Saturday night's final, Queen Of Scotch has won two races from nine starts since a bad fall at Angle Park on September 15 last year.
“She had a really bad fall and cracked her shoulder, and been a bit field shy since then,” Rasmussen said.
“She's always had that little bit of ability. She won a heap of races over the short distance when she was younger.
“So we're very proud of her.”
Rasmussen said Victa Marli had shown good improvement heading into the Futurity final.
“Victa Marli ran better than what she trialed. I think she trialed around 30.20 and she ran 30.11,” she said.
“And Queen Of Scotch trialed 30.11. So they've both still got improvement in them.
“Very happy with Marli and it's very exciting being (National Derby finalist) Victa Damian's little sister.
“It's just a wonderful litter.”
National Futurity Heat 2 replay – Victa Marli (1st)
Rasmussen said Mortified and Baby Jaycee ($3.50 from the eight box) would be the ones to beat in the Futurity, which is race six on the program at the NSW home of greyhound racing on Saturday night.
“But if either one of (Victa Marli and Queen Of Scotch) can get on the bunny, hopefully they can hang on and get away with it,” she said.
2023 National Futurity Final field & box draw
2023 National Futurity Final Box Draw & FieldWentworth Park520mGroup 1$103,850 to the winnerSaturday, January 21, 2023TBC
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1 Mortified
T: Chris O'BrienF: 315171Career: 16: 10-2-2Prizemoney: $56,940
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2 Queen Of Scotch
T: Tony RasmussenF: 581442Career: 25: 11-3-2Prizemoney: $15,815
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3 Wyndra All Class
T: Daniel GattF: 111661 Career: 16: 9-2-0Prizemoney: $45,400
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4 Ava Blazer
T: Jeffrey BrittonF: 333362 Career: 34: 6-6-8Prizemoney: $49,745
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5 Mount Gower
T: Charlie MicallefF: 751112Career: 35: 10-4-6Prizemoney: $23,720
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6 Zipping Mercedes
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7 Victa Marli
T: Tony RasmussenF: 111521Career: 20: 10-2-1Prizemoney: $18,525
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8 Baybee Jaycee
T: Robert DouglasF: 312311Career: 23: 13-1-4Prizemoney: $83,330
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| Reserves | |
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9 Akii Princess
T: George BorgF: 332131Career: 7: 2-1-3Prizemoney: $7,640
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10 Loves A Tipple
T: Scott MorganF: 611553Career: 19: 5-4-1Prizemoney: $18,100
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Footage has recently emerged of dogs being trained by Tony and Lisa Rasmussen having the crap kicked out of them on their property. They should be banned from ever owning or training another animal. The footage is heartbreaking and disgusting