STAR Tasmanian greyhound Damek warmed up for next Monday night’s state heats of the National Sprint Championship with an emphatic win in a grade five at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on Thursday night.
Damek began well from box five but when his feet felt traction he burst clear to establish a four-length buffer and in the home straight he scorched his way to a brilliant 10-length win over Official Speedy and clocked a sizzling 26.08 over the 461-metre trip, which was clearly the best of the night.
Damek is unbeaten from 10 starts in Tasmania with his only two defeats coming in Victoria where he campaigned in two grade fiver series’ at Sandown and The Meadows.
He was second, beaten a head at Sandown and then suffered an injury at The Meadows in which he finished a distant last.
The Eileen Thomas-trained dog had two months off to recover from the minor setback and is now working up to peak fitness for his attempt to represent Tasmania at the Nationals at Angle Park in Adelaide (SA) on August 28.
The state heats are on Monday night with the finals the following week (August 16).
Damek (Big Daddy Cool-World’s Finest) has earned his star status but his litter brother Daegan also has been sneaking his way through the grades.
Daegan scored an impressive win in grade four company over 461 metres in Hobart on Thursday night to make it back-to-back wins on the track.
He has progressed nicely and is going to be very competitive in similar grades on other racks provided he can lead.
He is a better proposition racing on the bunny and his improved box manners are aiding his cause to find the front.
Another litter brother Decembrist is campaigning in Victoria in the care of Rod Douglas but he has had no luck in his races of late.