Box One Has Blue Demon Ready To Launch Into Final

BLUE Demon caused one of the biggest boil overs in the Launching Pad heats and trainer Brooke Ennis is hoping that form will propel him into the final.

At his first start in five weeks, Blue Demon earned his place in the semi-finals courtesy of a brilliant come from behind victory in the night's opening heat.

Beginning fairly from box seven, Blue Demon swept wide around the first turn to sit second behind even money favourite Starline Express.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY

Starline Express carved out brilliant splits of 4.96 and 18.50 – both the fastest of the series – but with clear running Blue Demon proved too strong in the run to the line and claim the scalp of one of the series favourites.

"A lot of people said he had an awkward draw but we were really happy with his draw out there," said Ennis.

What a start to the night!

Blue Demon reels in Starline Express who went 4.96 early ? 29.25 the final time.

Both will advance to the semi-finals along with Cruise Mode and Rachael's Tears pic.twitter.com/ARA0FzsZZ5

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) March 23, 2023

"He's a dog that is happy on the outside of them and with a little bit of room he can get across. And he chased well which is good."

His winning time, 29.25, was the second fastest of the heats and more than two lengths faster than his previous best at the track but that came as no surprise to Ennis.

"I knew he was capable of it. He'd been trialling well in the lead up and he's always shown he has some ability. That was his first 500m for a little while so he should take a bit away from of it and hopefully improve off it. Box one isn't a favourable draw but it is good to have in a race like this."

Blue Demon won his sixth race in January putting him at the limit of qualification for the 1-6 win series, however the Launching Pad was not on the agenda at that point.

The son of Barcia Bale raced a further six times (and was placed in five times) before connections committed to a Launching Pad campaign.

"It was probably about three or four week ago," Ennis continued.

"Jess Fothergill (part owner) put the idea out there and asked Jamie (Brooke's husband) if she should buy a Launching Pad ticket. We hadn't really thought about it before but we had a look and Jess was happy to buy one (a slot) and we were happy to go with it.

"He was having a bit of time off, he wasn't 100% within himself so we gave him a little bit of a let up and he's going great."

Blue Demon needs to finish in the first two in order to progress to next week's $150,000 to the winner final. While Ennis believes he is better suited drawn wide, his box one semi-final draw shouldn't be a disadvantage.

"Robbie Britton's dog in the check (Trapper Tears) is going quite well but I don't think there's a great deal of pace on his outside so he should get a little bit of room to muster. In those race it's always nice to be on the rail, so hopefully he can get a clear run early."