Victa Damian confirms his Golden Easter Egg favouritism in GEE Heats
South Australia may not have produced a Golden Easter Egg winner yet, but Victa Damian's performance at Wentworth Park on Saturday night gave them hope.
Victa Damian, who broke the race record to win the Ladbrokes National Derby in January, surpassed that feat by clocking a stunning 29.34 seconds and winning his Golden Easter Egg heat by a whopping 12 lengths.
Victa Damian led the pack from box eight, clocking a 5.54 first mark and running home in 11.61 seconds, far outpacing the competition.
Victa Damian is one of the main contenders for the Easter Egg.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 2 – Victa Damian (29.32) T: Tony Rasmussen
Last year's Golden Easter Egg winner She's A Pearl won in the slowest of the ten heats in 29.96 seconds, but did enough to keep her hopes alive in the series.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 4 – She's A Pearl (29.96) T: Andy Lord
Queensland's Jay Is Jay was one of the main contenders in greyhound betting coming in to the 2023 Golden Easter Egg heats but he was eliminated after finishing fifth to Embrace in heat seven. Embrace, last year's Peter Mosman Opal winner, set a personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.59 seconds and won by five lengths.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 7 – Embrace (29.59) T: Craig Chappelow
Len Me Dad, who won the $40,000 to-the-winner Maitland Cup on March 17, clinched a spot in the Easter Egg Semi Finals taking out Heat 5. He finished in 29.47 seconds after taking the lead from box four and posting sectional times of 5.44, 13.69, and 17.76 seconds.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 5 – Len Me Dad (29.47) T: Ruth Matic
Fascinate Mel proved her under-appreciated “giant killer” status by winning her heat with an all-the-way victory and clocking in at 29.65, just.02 seconds slower than her best Wentworth Park figures.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 10 – Fascinate Mel (29.65) T: Noelene Holloway
Wyndra All Class won the opening heat of the 2023 Golden Easter Egg series for trainer Daniel Gatt running 29.72 seconds.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 1 – Wyndra All Class (29.72) T: Daniel Gatt
2023 Richmond Oaks winner Yuko Girl put popular NSW greyhound trainer Sam Sultana on the board winning Heat 3.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 3 – Yuko Girl (29.67) T: Sam Sultana
West Australia will have its chance at Group 1 Golden Easter Egg glory after WA trainer Dave Hobby won Heat 8 with Custard Monelli.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 8 – Custard Monelli (29.78) T: Dave Hobby
Despite being nominated for the race at the last minute, veteran Zipping Kyrgios surprised everyone by winning his heat in 29.85 seconds. Minnie Finn, the wife of John Finn, who trains Kyrgios, said they were preparing him for the Masters race on Easter Egg final night but decided to enter him for the big one after learning the prizemoney on offer for the Masters race was only $10,000.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 6 – Zipping Kyrgios (29.85) T: John Finn
Father Rick won Heat 9 for trainer Ray Webster, coming from fourth on the home turn to clock 29.84 seconds.
2023 Group Golden Easter Egg Heat 9 – Father Rick (29.84) T: Ray Webster
The 10 winners of the Golden Easter Egg Heats plus the 20 second and third placegetters from each of the heats and the 2 fastest fourth greyhounds will make up the fields for next week's semi finals.
With so many impressive performances, the @023 Golden Easter Egg Semi Final night at Wentworth Park next Saturday is sure to be exciting.