ONE of Despicable Craig’s most endearing qualities is his will to win and that was evident in his performance to win his first-round heat of the Vets Medley series in Hobart last Thursday night.
Despicable Craig began fairly from box six but he bulldozed his way to the front and once hard up against the rail he was relentless in his pursuit for victory.
The Brendan Pursell-trained dog toughed it out at the business end to hold on and score by almost a length from the favourite Bold Dancer that eventually got clear of the pack turning for home.
It was Despicable Craig’s first start over the 599-metre trip so he should benefit enormously from the outing.
One thing Pursell’s training methods ensure is that his dogs stick on when it counts.
Despicable Craig ($7) stopped the clock at 34.90 which was a fair effort at his first try over the journey.
Bold Dancer was game in defeat and would not have lost any admirers from the effort and while finishing two lengths astern, Gemstone Jack also ran another honest race but would probably need to win his second round heat over 461 metres next week to clinch a berth in the final.
The series is for grades four and five chasers and consists of two rounds of heats with the first over 599 metres and the second over 461 metres.
The final will be run over 599 metres with the top eight point scorers from the two rounds of heats to make it through.
The winner of each heat earns 11 points with eight for second and six for third.
Fourth place earns four points and that reduces by one through to seventh with no points for last place.