Pages Creek In Hot Pursuit Of Winning Treble

STAYER in waiting Pages Creek looks poised to kick punters off on the right note when he goes around as favourite in the opening event at Launceston tonight.

But as trainer Blake Pursell explains, the son of Fernando Bale will need to overcome an unsuitable box eight draw to claim a third straight victory.

"Box eight at Launceston over the 515m isn't good at all," Pursell said of the $1.95 favourite.

"The thing in his corner though is the fact it's not a very strong field; if he gets through the first corner untouched then he'll prove hard to beat. Ability wise he's got a lot on them – he just needs luck early."

Winner at three of his nine starts with a further four placings, Pages Creek has returned from a spell in dashing style for Pursell, winning his past two assignments, including a thunderous 26.33 heat victory of the Dennis Collis Memorial (461m) at Hobart last Thursday.

"He's always shown that his future will be over further and at the end of the month when he comes out of juvenile grade I'll step him up to 600 and we'll see how he goes," Pursell added.

"I've just taken him along slowly and let him find his feet … because he's slow out he won't be any champion over 600 either. If he can run 700 then hopefully he'll measure up to some better races in the middle of the year."

Pursell has seven runners engaged at tonight's Launceston card, the second of those Be Like Bill who tackles Raging Ralston in the invitation event – race five.

"Box eight is good for him because even if he misses it away he can use his speed down the outside," Pursell explained.

"He's had box eight at Launceston plenty of times so he's definitely used to it but his chances will depend on what Raging Ralston does. My dog will run his 29.70."

In race six Pursell is represented by two runners with Dahlhaus and Born Jamie drawn beside each other in boxes four and five respectively over the 515 metres.

"I think one of them will win but I'm not sure which," said Pursell of the joint $2.80 favourites.

"They'll both be hunting over for the fence early; if Dahlhaus is within a length or so of Born Jamie down the back, he'll be hard to hold out but Born Jamie is going as good now as when he first came over here. His run to win at Devonport last week I thought was great as it wasn't really suitable for him."

Pursell's night is rounded out by the appearance of Bobby Lava (box 5) in race seven, Got The Edge (box 6) in race eight while Fernando Lass (box 5) will contest race 10.

"Bobby Lava is racing really well but he's found himself in a really strong race," Pursell said.

"Stanley Gordon is drawn in two and if he moves off the track like he did last time than I can see Bobby Lava being in a bit of trouble.

"Got The Edge and Fernando Lass are probably my two most frustrating dogs.

"They have the ability to win those races but when you put them in the boxes you don't really know what you're going to get. The first time I trialled Fernando Lass at Launceston she went 29.92 … she can really run but just doesn't produce it in races."