In Brief
- McInerney the headline act in Tasmanian sprint heats.
- Pursell happy with the outcome of the mainland campaign.
- Sprint & Distance State Finals to be staged next Thursday night.
The decision to send McInerney to the mainland by trainer Blake Pursell has paid an immediate dividend with connections now focusing on ambitions to qualify for the Group 1 National Sprint Championship series.
Pursell has brought the reigning Easter Cup winner home to his Brighton-based kennels with preparations for contesting the Tasmanian Sprint Championship (515m) this Thursday night in Launceston now in full view.
McInerney will step out from box 1 in the second heat as the $1.55 favourite chasing his 18th career victory.
Throughout the 2021-2022 racing season McInerney was simply in the zone having held a lengthy record of five straight victories in succession and also claiming the prestigious Easter Cup Final back in April at Hobart.
With his confidence levels sky high it was a real simple decision by Blake to send McInerney back to Victoria.
“Everything for McInerney couldn’t have gone any better during the campaign, I was really happy in all his runs; winning four races between Sandown Park and The Meadows tracks is a great effort,” the trainer said.
“The dog came home in great order so we are ready to have a crack at the National Sprint Championships.”
Blake’s dad Brendan was responsible for the Fernando Bale – Born Ali chaser’s mainland stint, which also resulted in a last-start Free-For-All win at Sandown Park to score by 4 lengths in clocking a slick 29.30secs.
The field consists of just five runners following scratchings of Buckle Up Bahati and another series drawcard in Wynburn Ruby who was scratched from the sprints heats due to an injury out of the Shane Yates Memorial.
McInerney, the winner of 18 races for owner Noel Mugavin, is hoping to extend its winning streak to four in a row.
Dilston sprinter Just Posh (box 4) is the $1.80 favourite to claim her heat of the Tasmanian Sprint for trainer Pat Ryan, which the runner still making her comeback having been spelled for over three months recently.
Classy Lady (box 2) for trainer David Crosswell is the second elect at $4 looking to upstage the race favourite.
The first four placegetters from both heats of the Tasmanian Sprint Championship will progress through to the $10,605 decider next Thursday night in Launceston run alongside the Tasmanian Dist. Championship.
Greyhound racing in Launceston on Thursday night starts at 19:37 with all 10 races on Sky 1 and TasracingTV.
Watch McInerney (box 3) score a victory in Launceston on 14 March: