G1 Ladbrokes Derby and Futurity Fields Decided

SOUTH Australia's Tony Rasmussen declared Victa Damian (pictured) the best greyhound he has had in his 27 years as a trainer after the dog clocked fastest time of the night winning his heat of the Ladbrokes National Derby at Wentworth Park on Friday.

Victa Damian was third away from box five but took the lead going into the first turn and won by nearly eight lengths in 29.44.

"He doesn't turn two until next month so Victa Damian could be anything,'' said Rasmussen, who has 52 greyhounds in work.

"Until Victa Damian came along my best was Honcho Monelli, who won 38 races up to mid 2019.''

After Victa Damian trialled 29.57 at Wentworth Park recently Rasmussen predicted the dog would get down to 29.40 in his Derby heat and he was close to the mark.

Second fastest Derby qualifier is Rockstar Apollo, who led throughout in his heat from box one in 29.58.

Rockstar Apollo's trainer Shaun Evans said: "The Derby is one race I've always wanted to win.

"When I was a little kid my father used to take me to watch the Derby at Wenty for my birthday every year so it is my favourite race in that respect.''

Evans has two finalists on Saturday, January 21, as Rockstar Apollo's litter brother and kennelmate Rockstar Gunnar qualified with a 30.21 heat win.

"Rockstar Apollo has now won his past five starts and Rockstar Gunnar has won four in a row so they are pretty good credentials going into the final,'' Evans said.

The other Derby heat winners were Go Bears, who scored his first Wentworth Park win by leading all the way in a slick 29.85, and Grafton-trained Starline Express, who led throughout in 29.90.

Victa Damian's SA trainers Tony and Lisa Rasmussen also have two runners in the Ladbrokes National Futurity final, as they finished second with Queen Of Scotch and won with Victa Marli in 30.11.

Fastest Futurity heat winner was the Daniel Gatt-trained Wyndra All Class, who raced wide from box three but led all the way in 29.88.

Crack Victorian bitch Baby Jaycee came from third early to win her heat in 29.92, while CHRIS O'Brien's Mortified exited box eight and won in 29.91.

Wyndra All Class has drawn box three again in the final, but trainer Daniel Gatt said: "I wanted her drawn wide.''

Mortified drew box one in the final and when that was announced, her trainer CHRIS O'Brien said simply: "Beautiful!"

Baby Jaycee's Victorian trainer Bob Douglas was full of praise for his bitch after her heat win saying: "She is a great little chaser, that was a really tough win.

"But she is going to have her work cut out from box eight in the final.''

Happiest trainer after the Derby box draw was Gozo King's trainer Sam Sultana, as his dog, a gallant runner-up in Rockstar Apollo's heat, came up with the rails alley.