The no-fuss Queenslander has engagements in two of the Moonee Valley meeting’s feature support races – I Am Sam in the SEW-Eurodrive Popular Alm FFA and Thats The Spirit in The VSB&SA Tailamade Lombo.

But whether or not she takes part in night two, on December 20, is the question every harness racing fan wants answered.

Rasmussen has her stable star in Melton and a start in the $375,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup may yet be on the cards for Blacks A Fake, who claimed a third-straight Inter Dominion title at Moonee Valley earlier this year.

Rasmussen said yesterday afternoon that she hoped to be in a position to answer that question following a serious hit out tomorrow morning.

“I gave him another gallop today and he seemed to work really nicely, but I’ll reserve judgement until I give him some fast work on Saturday,” she said. “That will be do or die day for him.”

Just a week ago Blacks A Fake was expected to be in the spelling paddock when the Victoria Cup was run after failing in the Miracle Mile.

While a back problem was identified as the reason behind that failure, when fifth behind Divisive after enjoying a cosy run near the lead, his recovery has been exceptional and he is back on track to contest the race he won in 2006.

“He’s dealt with his injury terrifically,” Rasmussen said. “He’s as good as gold now and I’m really happy with where he’s at.”

Just hours after putting Blacks A Fake through his paces Rasmussen will be doing her best to get another runner into the Victoria Cup with I Am Sam chasing the ballot exemption that accompanies victory in the $30,000 Popular Alm FFA.

Like Blacks A Fake, I Am Sam was the subject of a recent injury concern but Rasmussen reported that the six-year-old, who is trained by her father-in-law Bill Dixon, was back at full strength.

“He had a bit of foot infection but we got to the bottom of that pretty quickly and he only end up missing about three days work,” she said.

“So it ended up being just a little freshen up, which probably didn’t hurt him at all.”

The tough Perfect Art gelding has drawn ideally in barrier one in the 2100m event to be run at 9.02pm.

It’s a different story for Rasmussen’s other drive tomorrow night with Thats The Spirit, also trained by Dixon, to start from outside the back row in 1609-metre The VSB&SA Tailamade Lombo.

“She’s drawn awkwardly, but she’s racing well and this is a class drop for her. She’s an M6 racing against some M1s, so on class alone you’d think that she’ll be right in it.”

The $20,000 mares free-for-all is race seven tomorrow night and will be run at 9.30pm.