In Brief
- Pursell kennel has four runners in the Life Members Cup.
- 21-time winner Sprint Gordon rated top chance by the trainer.
- Race favourite Quick Joey Small chasing back-to-back wins.
Brighton trainer Blake Pursell has numbers well and truly onside, preparing four of the eight finalists in the inaugural running of the L.G.R.C. Life Members Cup staged at Launceston on Monday night over the 515-metres.
The best eight race has assembled the state’s best sprinters chasing a lucrative purse of $3,335 to the hopeful winner.
Launceston has designated the event as an acknowledgement to those who helped shape and support the race club.
On the current statistics for the year so far, trainer Blake Pursell has produced 18 winners on the Launceston circuit.
Track specialist Sprint Gordon has been the star performer in Blake’s kennel over the previous eighteen months racing at an elite level, including a 2nd placed effort to Wynburn Sheean in the Group 2 Launceston Cup in February.
Rated a $3.80 chance, the son of Spring Gun and Champagne Girl recorded his last victory three starts back in Hobart on May 6, when taking out a heat of the G.O.T.B.A.T. Division 1 series from Fabulous Baroque in 26.13s.
Hall of Fame breeder Barry Heawood owns the black chaser having won 21 races with 18 minors from 54 race starts.
Of all four runners in the Life Members Cup admiringly Blake has rated Sprint Gordon his best chance from box 1.
“Drawing the inside is a bonus and Sprint Gordon likes to rail which he’ll need to perform here,” the trainer said.
“It’s certainly a great field and I really do think Quick Joey Small is the one to beat coming off its last start performance; though the dog can drift away from the rail with Sprint Gordon on the inside it will play in our favour.
Goodnight Vicki, who finished third in this year’s Launceston Cup, is the next best of the charges from Pursell.
The daughter of Fernando Bale will exit from box 7 chasing her 11 career win in 46 appearances on the race track.
“Goodnight Vicki is a mighty little chaser that always gives 110%, she has a very tough draw as she loves the fence and there’s a fair bit of speed in the race so she will need some luck in getting across from out wide,” Blake detailed.
Beep Test Baron has box 6 and rates a $9.50 chance while Pages Creek will come from box 8 as an outsider at $21.
“Beep Test Baron came back from a short break last start at Devonport where he had no luck. He’s a young dog just starting out in top grade, he can show good speed jumping in low 5 seconds and just has a hard draw,” told Blake.
“Pages Creek also likes to be down near the rails, had no luck last start but will need to be doing everything right in this field, to be a place chance he’s super strong but hoping he can be near the front runners turning for home.”
The David Crosswell-trained Quick Joey Small is the $2.20 favourite from box 2 eyeing off back-to-back victories.
Monday night’s Launceston greyhound meeting will commence at 19:10 with all 10 races broadcast on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV.
Watch Sprint Gordon (box 1) battle it out with Wynburn Sheean in Launceston on April 26.