Gordon hopes for bit of luck

TALENTED young greyhound trainer Blake Pursell admits his kennel star Sprint Gordon will need to rely on a fair amount of luck if he is to emerge triumphant in the Group 3 Devonport Chase at the Showground on Tuesday.

Sprint Gordon won his heat last week in the fastest time of the eight heat winners, clocking 25.45 over the 452m trip.

But drawing box three in today’s final and having two quick beginners on his inside could cause havoc for the son of Spring Gun.

“My dog usually jumps with the field and he’s not what you would call a slick beginner and the two dogs on his inside usually jump well and head right, so that could spell disaster for my dog if he begins like he does normally,” Pursell said.

“I have to hope that he either begins the best he ever has and finds the lead, or he misses the start and then gets luck trying to get a run through them on the first turn.

“He has brilliant mid- race speed and that is what has won him most of his races.”

Pursell is confident Sprint Gordon goes into the final at his peak. “I can say without doubt he has never produced better work in a week leading up to a race in his whole career, so that is encouraging, but he will still need luck because this is the best Devonport Cup field I can recall in many years,” he said.

Victorian trainer Paul Abela secured two finalists in Zevatron ( box 1) and Aston Pilsner ( 7) and both recorded excellent times in winning their respective heats.

Both dogs are being cared for by top Tasmanian trainer Patrick Ryan, who gave both dogs a solo run on the track before the heats.

Zevatron began brilliantly from box three to lead and win his heat comfortably in 25.46, while his kennel mate clocked 25.65, finding the lead mid- race and staved off a late challenge from Mr. Camacho.

Trainer David Crosswell is no stranger to winning feature races. His contender Highland Chief could not have been more impressive in winning his heat in a time of 25.48 and he defeated the odds- on favourite, Victorian Run and Carry, which has already been backed to win the Group 1 Hobart Thousand next month.

Highland Chief won his heat from box five and he must contend with box six in today’s final. Ben Englund’s star youngster Wynburn Sheean won his heat from box seven, clocking 25.70. But he did sizzle around the showground circuit in 25.30 late last month, and with a clear run from box eight, he looms as a genuine winning chance.

Debbie Cannan has two finalists in Kintyre ( 5) and Siberia ( 2), with the latter her best winning hope.

Siberia won his heat from box one and will wear the check vest today. Should he begin as well as he did in his heat, the blue dog will make his presence felt.