BRIGHTON greyhound trainer Brendan Pursell should play a dominant role in the outcome of the Greyhound Owners Trainers Breeders Association Tasmania division three final for juveniles courtesy of him training the winner of each of the three heats of the popular series at UBET Park Hobart last night.
He prepares four of the eight finalists with minor placegetter Flat Out also making it into the final.
“It’s great to have so many pups get into a final so hopefully we can get at least one of them into the money next week,” Pursell said.
Litter siblings Despicable Erin and Despicable Scott emerged triumphant after being well backed and Pursell made it a clean sweep of the Division three heats when his outsider Despicable Charl led throughout to win his heat.
Despicable Erin (Magic Sprite-Despicable Barb) went into her heat on the back of two unplaced efforts at her only other outings but she was able to make the most of her inside alley.
She began well and while unable to lead early she burrowed through to join the leaders at the top turn and in the home straight she bounded clear and went on to score almost two lengths from Celtic Kid with Mortaki a closing third.
Despicable Scott was also fairly away from box one but unable to hold out the well-backed Gun Swinger that led clearly to the home turn.
Gun Swinger ($5) looked set to win but Despicable Scott ($1.60fav) showed an incredible will to win and when he moved alongside the leader he forged clear and hit the line about two lengths clear with the winner’s his kennel mate Flat Out running on well for third.
“There is no doubt Despicable Scott is the pick of the finalists and his time (26.18) is testament to his ability,” Pursell said.
Despicable Charl Collision-Lyndor Lee) was one of the outsiders on the TOTE but he delivered a performance more suited to a favourite.
Despicable Charl began well from box eight and ran a straight line to the top turn before crossing down to the fence turning for home.
The heavily backed favourite Wynburn Arrow ($1.70) fell out of th3 boxes and settled a clear last but when she started to make her way through to the field to threaten turning for home she was being hailed the likely winner.
But Despicable Charl refused to wilt and he held on to defeat the favourite by a half-length with Bring Sexy back a distant third.
“All of my pups drew where they needed to be in their heats and I am sure the owners had a little something on them at good odds,” he said.
The pups with the Despicable handles are owned by their breeders Mitchell Pryce and Sarah Easey and if they were able to secure the opening odds set by Sportingbet of $14 (Despicable Erin), $5.50 (Despicable Scott) and $41 (Despicable Charl) they would have cleaned up.
The winners and runners-up along with the two fastest thirds qualified for a berth in the final of which Pursell’s pup Flat Out was one and he will be a chance in the final if he begins with them from box four.
By Peter Staples