2023 Golden Easter Egg Series Kicks Off This Saturday
By Jeff Collerson
Victa Damian, who smashed the race record winning the National Derby at Wentworth Park in January, returns on Saturday night to launch his quest to become the first South Australian-trained dog to win the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg.
Victa Damian, who has won nine of just 13 races, has box eight in heat two of the 520m group one event.
The dog is unbeaten in two starts from box eight but has also won two from two out of box one, prompting Tony Rasmussen, whose wife Lisa is the trainer, to comment: "Boxes don't matter much to him.
"Victa Damian hasn't raced for a month but is ready to go.
"I took him to Perth for a 520m trial at Cannington on March 11 and he clocked 29.63, which is very quick.
"Victa Damian was never going to contest the Perth Cup, that would have been too much to ask of a young dog as he only turned two in February.
"His Cannington trial was to give him a look at that track because next month he is going back to WA to contest The Sandgroper.
"But his goal has always been the Golden Easter Egg.''
Queensland has not provided an Easter Egg winner since the great Bogie Leigh in 2004, but has not had a better credentialled contestant than Jay Is Jay, who has box three in heat seven.
She's A Pearl won last year's Easter Egg in 29.73 but Jay Is Jay recently clocked a blistering 29.50 in a solo trial over the Wentworth Park 520m trip.
He then went to Albion Park where he won over 520m by 10 lengths in 29.35, breaking the course record held by Sennachie, the sire of Jay Is Jay.
Michael Zammit, whose wife Selena trains Jay Is Jay, said: "He is obviously a very fast dog and his only flaw is that he possesses an average first split, that is the only part of a race that sometimes lets him down.''
She's A Pearl, attempting to become the first greyhound to win back-to-back Easter Eggs, has box two in heat four.
Although she is up against talented Victorian Baby Jaycee (box five) and local flyer Mortified (six) the draw favours She's A Pearl and she should win comfortably.
She's A Pearl is attempting to become the first greyhound to win back-to-back Golden Easter Eggs
Victorian greyhounds have won 10 of the past 15 Easter Egg finals and Geelong trainer Mark Delbridge will fly the flag this year in the absence of regular visitors like Andrea Dailly, Jason Thompson, David Geall, Kel Greenough or Jeff Britton.
"Apart from Kaheem Bale, who was unplaced in a Million Dollar Chase heat in April, my greyhounds have not seen the track,'' Delbridge said.
"Yachi Bale has had a couple of little injuries and hasn't raced since February 18 but he trialled well enough for me the other day to warrant bringing him to Sydney.
"Ailee Bale has drawn a tough heat and although she finished second in the Country Classic from box seven she faces a hard task winning on Saturday from box eight.''
Delbridge's top chances are likely to be Elite Alex and Landyn Bale, although Yachi Bale has won 10 of 30 races for nearly $732,000 in stakes.
Boom Northern Rivers sprinter Cash Master has box six in heat eight and trainer Robert Cooke is banking on him reproducing the form which has given the dog 10 wins and four placings from 15 starts.
