When Dominic’s Girl made a winning debut at Richmond last Christmas Eve, it was the perfect gift for her late owner Raymond Baker.
The black bitch he’d bred out of Silent Enemy won her first four starts for trainers Vic and Darren Sultana, giving Baker something to cheer for during a long and arduous battle with cancer.
“He was stoked when she won her maiden, but I think he was just happy to see her race,” Darren Sultana said.
Dominic's Girl is the progeny of Fernando Bale x Silent Enemy and has only missed a cheque once in 14 career starts
“Dad and Ray knew each other for forty years and I’d know him since I was a kid so we’d seen him battle cancer for decades. He was a real fighter but this girl seemed to give him a bit of a kick along.”
Baker passed away in March aged 69.
But three months on, Dominic’s Girl continues to race proudly and promisingly in Raymond's honour.
A 20.03 victory in the semifinals on the Ladbrokes Thunderbolt her latest triumph, with a spot in Saturday night's $75,000 final next on the agenda.
“He would be so chuffed seeing her go around in a race like this. It’s a real shame he won’t be around to watch her because even though she’s giving away class and experience to the other dogs, if she can lead, she can win,” Sultana added.
“Since she came back from a spell, she’s been very reliable out of the boxes. It’s actually hard to believe she blew the start so badly in her first ever run considering how she flew out in the semi-finals.”
“There’s only about a length between the dogs over that first section based on the semi-finals so the start is so important. If she can get to the front, they might jam up and she can get away. If she misses the start, she’s 100/1.”
Ray’s brother John now owns Dominic’s Girl and he will make the six-hour trip from the Central Coast of NSW to Grafton to take in the third edition of the Thunderbolt finale.
The Blue Haven local admitting he didn’t expect this level of success so soon for the talented youngster.
“I think hers was the hardest semi-final out of the lot. She’s only a baby and was taking on seasoned dogs. Some had close to 30 wins and a lot had 50 starts so I was really impressed,” John Baker said.
“The Sultana’s said she’s run well though and they’ve done a great job with her…it’s hard to get a dog with a strike rate like hers [10 wins from 14 starts]. I just think she’s doing it for Ray to be honest. Her name came from Raymond’s grandson, and it’d be an emotional night if she wins on Saturday.”
