THE name Damek is one every punter in Australia needs to etch into their little black books because the son of Big Daddy Cool is set to take the industry by storm.
Damek scored an effortless 12-length win in a semi-final of the Hobart Maiden Thousand two weeks ago at his first start under lights and last Thursday night he gave his rivals another drubbing.
The Eileen Thomas-trained pup scored stepped out in the final and at the cramped odds of $1.30 he left them in his wake to score by almost seven lengths from a gallant Capetown Gem with Delilah Dianne over a length astern.
Damek was bred by Peter and June Phillips from their well-performed broodbitch World’s Finest.
When the Phillips’ opted not to go on with the pups Peter called Thomas and asked if she would be interested in taking a couple from the litter of six to train.
Ian and Eileen Thomas jumped at the chance and two pups were dispatched to their Invermay kennels in the north of the state.
Damek was one and Daegan the other and Daegan won his first race at his third start two weeks ago in Hobart.
Thomas was thrilled with this latest win by her new kennel star but admitted it had been a nerve-wracking week leading up to the final.
“I worry about all my dogs when they race but when you have won with the potential that this one has it makes it ten times worse,” Thomas said.
“Launceston trainer-breeder Leigh Wood broke the pups in and he suggested to the Phillips’ that Damek could be the pick of the litter.
Thomas knew she had something special after the dog’s first hand-slip on the Launceston track.
“When we slipped him from the fly (320m) at Launceston he clocked 16.29 which was equivalent to an invitation class run.”
“We trialled him again but he knocked his leg so we took the advice of our checker Anthony Bullock and gave the dog a month off to recover.”
“It was nothing major but enough to warrant him having a little spell.”
It was during the dog’s break that Thomas opted to tackle the Hobart Maiden Thousand series.
Damek won his Maiden Thousand qualifying heat by 18 lengths at his first full gallop and ran the 461 metres in a sizzling 26.10.
“We couldn’t believe his time in the Thousand heat and if there were any doubts that he was pretty smart before that run there weren’t after he won,” she said.
Damek is being aimed at the Launceston Breeder’s Classic series next month but in the meantime would aim at winning his juveniles at Devonport and Launceston.
While Damek has been impressive, Thomas said the dog still had plenty of room for improvement, especially in his box manners.
“I’d like to see him begin better than he has been doing,” Thomas said.
“He doesn’t get out quick but he gathers speed quickly and his second splits at all three runs in Hobart were exceptional,” she said.
There were rumours that big money had been offered to buy Damek but the owner said no offers had been made, although he admitted there was a suggestion to name a price but he confirmed the dog is definitely not for sale at any price.
Phillips trains the litter brother Decembrist that has won five from 13 and is showing almost as much promise as Damek.
Another brother Cool Kiwi was sold to trainer Mick Taylor and that dog has won a race while the only bitch from the litter will remain in Phillips’ care.
She is unnamed but has trialled and is expected to make her debut in a couple of months.
The only other survivor from the litter has been placed with GAP.