TONIGHT’S Launceston Veterinary Hospital Breeders Classic final at The TOTE Racing centre is being rated one of the best in the race’s history with a potential superstar in the quality field of eight.
The Eileen Thomas-trained Damek is unbeaten fro four race starts and his win in a semi-final last week is still being talked about in racing circles nationwide.
Damek was dragged down from behind soon after the start and almost tailed the field at the first turn but he regained his composure and set sail after the leader, collared him halfway down the back stretch and then went on to win by a dozen lengths.
Only the best can overcome that sort of disadvantage in a race and still win.
Tonight he has drawn box two, the same alley he had last week, so if he begins well and has control at the first turn Damek will not only win but stands a chance of breaking Big Moose’s track record that he set in the final of this race two years ago.
While Damek will start a long odds-on favourite his litter brothers Decembrist (7) and Daegan (6) have shown enough to suggest they can with if Damek finds any trouble.
Daegan also is trained by Thomas and she has him at his peak for the race while Decembrist is prepared by Peter Phillips whop bred the litter.
Decembrist is trained by Phillips because the dog is emotionally attached to the trainer.
Decembrist has won seven of his 19 starts with as many minor placings and is the most seasoned of the tri from the litter.
Daegan has early brilliance and will need to produce that from box six if he is to be any chance of defeating either of his siblings.
The first reserve Luke’s A Missile has gained a start with the scratching of Hellyeah Missy and he looms as a chance to cause a boilover from box one, provided he flies the lids
The DavidCrosswell-trainedVarietyBay began well from box seven in her semi-final only to be run down by Highest Regard but she has yet to show any consistency from the boxes.
If Damek emerges triumphant tonight connections plan to progress the dog to the Illingworth Classic.