TALENTED pup Despicable Todd powered his way into next week’s Tattsbet Hobart maiden Thousand final with an awesome display to take out his semi-final over 461 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night.
The Brendan Pursell-trained dog impressed when he clocked 26.22 to win his Maiden Thousand heat on debut but last night he bettered that time significantly and on a very much rain affected track clocking a slick 26.07.
He ;led throughout to score by 4-1/2 lengths from the Michael Sutcliffe-trained Work It that also made it into the final.
The first two dogs home in each of the four semi-finals progress to the final next Thursday night
Pursell will have three of his team in the final after I’ve Got Class produced a miraculous effort to come from last to win his semi-final in a head-bobbing finish with the Susan Gittus-trained Beemo.
Only a half-head separated the pair on the line but both dogs produced great runs to make it into the final.
Pursell’s other finalist is One Man Army that finished second to the impressive Reddington that led throughout to win the semi-final in a slick 26.17.
The Mick Stronger-trained dog won his heat in a the slow time of 26.94 but last night he scampered over the 461 metres in 26.17 to stake his claim on the final.
It wouldn’t be a feature race final without a runner from the Ted Medhurst kennel and he will be represented by Outskirts that produced a great display to get into the final.
Outskirts was in all sorts of trouble nearing the home turn with Dark Nemesis six lengths clear straitening for the run home.
But Outskirts balanced up and ran home down the outside of the track to core by almost a length.
The son of Lochinvar Marlow stopped the clock at 26.42 but given the course he had to take to win it was a tremendous effort.