Rasmussens confident Victa Damian can clinch National Derby title
From the very first time Lisa and Tony Rasmussen trialed Victa Damian they knew they had a future superstar on their hands.
The national interest in the 23-month-old only grew after his scorching National Derby Heat 5 win at Wentworth Park on Friday night, crossing the line in a stunning 29.44 seconds and saluting by 7 ¾ lengths.
Despite drawing box five for the final on Saturday night, punters might find good value in his $2.60 winning odds across betting sites.
That is because he prevailed so comfortably from that lane last week.
The Rasmussens have already declared he is the best dog they've had in their care because of the way he caught their attention from such an early age.
“The first time we put him round it was like ‘this is a pup, and pup's don't run those times – well not the pups we've had in the past, that's for sure',” Lisa Rasmussen told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“He was running race-dog times from Day 1, basically. So we're very, very excited.”
National Derby Heat 5 replay – Victa Damian (1st)
But it hasn't all been smooth sailing from the precocious young chaser from South Australia.
“First time we put him with another dog it was with his brother, Victa Alby. They collided on the first corner at Angle Park before they first raced, and he hurt his shoulder,” Rasmussen said.
“So he got put back five or six weeks, I think. Alby actually won his maiden first and showed a lot of potential as well at the start.
“Then we decided ‘we'll just bring him back slowly' and head to the Adelaide Cup Night for his maiden.”
Going in as the $1.35 favourite for his first career start, Victa Damian certainly lived up to the hype that night on October 7, saluting in 30.85 seconds over 530m in a brilliant performance.
It was just outside Buzz Junkie's Adelaide Cup-winning time of 30.72 seconds later that evening, and he did it from box eight after overcoming early trouble, going on to salute by 4 ¼ lengths.
Victa Damian's record is now seven wins from 10 starts.
It's no wonder Rasmussen is so excited about his future, but she also doesn't want to get too carried away with him.
“Without getting too excited and too overconfident, but we've got this dog with untapped ability and we're trying to manage where he's going to go,” she said.
“We're so grateful for the Schadow family (owners) for entrusting us with him.
“Everything could go wrong next week and we could all fall flat on our faces, but we've got a pretty big opinion of him.
“And I've said before that he's the best dog we've ever put a collar on at this stage of his career.
“It's unbelievable, and we're just hoping to enjoy the ride and take it easy with him.”
Rasmussen said Victa Damian's Silver Chief experience – where he missed the kick but fought back to finish fourth in the second heat on December 3 – would put him in good stead for this weekend.
“We took him to The Meadows, and he went into The Meadows without a trial,” Rasmussen said.
“He was a bit confused where he was going in his first race there. His second race he missed the kick a little bit and ran a really good third in a Grade 5.
“And then he drew box five again in a Silver Chief heat. He was up against (eventual winner) Rejuvenate.
“He missed the kick a little bit and just couldn't get through the pack, and the winner was off and gone.
“That experience of travelling (was good) – we weren't expecting to do anything with him.”
Victa Damian returned to Adelaide in fine fashion, winning his The Spark (0-5 Wins) Free For All Series heat and then the final on December 22.
“Just to give him that little bit of travel, a different track and come back here and do the 0-5 Wins series worked out absolutely fantastic for him,” Rasmussen said.
“That gave him confidence on that Saturday into the Thursday with the features we had here at Angle Park.
“And then off to trial at Wenty, and to come back and do this. So far so good.”
That trial happened to be a jaw-dropping 29.57 seconds, before his convincing Derby heat victory.
Already, Victa Damian looks like a complete sprinter.
His first and second sectionals were 5.44 and 17.82 seconds respectively last Friday night – very impressive for a chaser who is not yet two years old.
“Just his first two or three strides out of the boxes are the only weaknesses we think he has,” Rasmussen said.
“If he can be a lid-pinger, I don't think there are many who could catch him.
“We're just so excited.”
Victa Damian has already shown he could also develop into a class stayer, but right now Rasmussen just wants to see him continue to improve and reach his high potential as a short-distance dog.
“Even his run-home times would suggest that later on he might go over further ground, but he's only a baby,” she said.
“We never, ever push them. No matter what dog it is – my dad always told me ‘don't put them over too much of a distance until they get to at least two'.
“While he's sprinting nicely there's no point putting him any further.”
For all the natural ability Victa Damian has, he will again have to come ready to race in the Derby final against $3 winning chance Rockstar Apollo, for Shaun Evans.
The two-year-old won heat four of the Derby in 29.58 seconds, with a 5.42 first section.
“Definitely Rockstar Apollo in box three. His first split was a bit quicker,” Rasmussen said.
“But if Damian can get round him going around the first corner, his back section was a little bit quicker and he finished off a little bit better.
“So I think he's going to be the one to beat, for sure.”
2023 National Derby Final box draw
2023 National Derby Final Box DrawWentworth Park520m
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1 Gozo King
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2 Lawless
T: Lee MooreF: 211312Career: 25: 8-6-4Prizemoney: $34,000
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3 Rockstar Apollo
T: Shaun EvansF: 211111Career: 13: 8-2-1 Prizemoney: $39,640
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4 Rockstar Gunnar
T: Shaun EvansF: 621111Career: 11: 4-3-1Prizemoney: $21,270
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5 Victa Damian
T: Lisa RasmussenF: 634111Career: 10: 7-0-1Prizemoney: $36,480
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6 Starline Express
T: Reg GardoliF: 211161Career: 10: 5-4-0Prizemoney: $49,630
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8 Go Bears
T: Ronald UlrickF: 133361Career: 30: 10-4-5Prizemoney: $39,860
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9 Palawa King
T: Raymond SmithF: 111142Career: 19: 8-2-2Prizemoney: $42,630
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10 Sir Banjo
T: Jodie LordF: 222521Career: 21: 5-4-4Prizemoney: $28,560
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