BRIGHTON trainer Brendan Pursell will play a major role in the outcome of the GOTBAT series finals in Hobart on Thursday night.
Last week he prepared Despicable Lea to win a division three heat of the series for juveniles and later in the night Despicable Ben and Despicable Matt made their way into the division two final for grades four and five dogs with impressive performances.
Despicable Ben was exceptional in winning his heat in the fastest time of the night, clocking 26.06 with splits of 5.21 and 11.29.
The son of Westmead Hawk-Electron forged to an early lead and put the end result beyond doubt when he sprinted clear at the top of the home straight to go on and score by six lengths from the highly promising Topline Power.
It was th dog’s third win in succession and took his career win record to five from six starts.
Despicable Matt won his heat but only narrowly from Great Taylors that tried valiantly to run the winner down in the home straight reducing the margin to a half-head after conceding the leader two lengths 80 metres from the line.
Senor Slamma (El Grand Senor-Tequila Mail) made an impression with his all-the-way win in his division two heat.
Senor Slamma, formerly owned in Victoria where he won two at Shepparton before being purchased by Robyn Johnson, began brilliantly from box three to lead and he gave nothing else a chance on his way to an emphatic win over Designer Rush and Dark Gladiator.
The Gary Johnson-trained dog has been a revelation since arriving in Tasmania winning four of his nine starts and his time of 26.20 would suggest he will be a major contender in this week’s final.
Real Caution was impressive in wining his heat in a time of 26.13.
The Ted Medhurst-trained dog was coming off a game second in the Tasmanian Derby four nights earlier and could not have been more impressive in winning his heat.
Real caution began well from box three and eventually took control just after passing the 340-metre boxes.
He went on to score by almost three lengths from Winklee Tom with the favourite Mumford’s Son just under a length away third.
Victorian-owned Dirty Rich also scored an impressive heat win.
Dirty Rich, prepared by Peter Phillips at Copping and owned by his breeder Allan Lie, began well from box seven but was caught three-wide to the top turn with Alonnah and Gemstone Jack on his inside.
When the going got tough in the home straight it was Dirty Rich that stepped up to the plate and delivered the goods.
Dirty Rich stopped the clock 26.36 and it was his first victory from three previous tries on the circuit.