Sprint Gordon Roars Into Devonport Chase Final

Brilliant speedster Sprint Gordon has roared into next week's Group 3 Ladbrokes Devonport Chase Final (452m) with a ripping 25.45 heat victory on Tuesday.

The recent Tasmanian Gold Cup winner, prepared at Brighton by Blake Pursell for owner/breeder Barry Heawood, was a gutsy heat winner, taking the lead coming off the back straight to power away and score by 4 ½ lengths.

The time recorded of 25.45 was the fastest of the eight heat winners which progressed through to next Tuesday's $25,000-to-the-winner finale.

And on the strength of Tuesday's sensational run, Pursell is confident the son of Spring Gun is primed for a forward showing in next week's decider.

"That was a great run today," Pursell offered.

"I half expected him to miss the start though he still showed that brilliant mid-race speed. The time recorded was quite a shock after how he began.

"The main thing was that he qualified for the final and we can look ahead to next week."

Sprint Gordon, a son of Spring Gun and Champagne Girl, has won 15 races with nine minors from 31 career outings.

He'll exit box three in next week's $25,000 to-the-winner decider where he takes on an all-star line-up including Victorian visitors Zevatron and Aston Pilsner which give trainer Paul Abela two runners in the final.

"It's a very even final; you don't know exactly how it will pan out – but we will need luck," said Pursell.

"We have been in this race a few times. Sprint Gordon is a brilliant dog and deserves a chance at a good race like this."

On a fantastic day of racing, trainer Ben Englund turned out his chaser Wynburn Sheean in fine style, landing his heat in 25.70 to extend his record to eight wins from 11 starts.

The Englund family will be chasing their second victory in the race next Tuesday after Ben's father Tom prepared Hall of Fame chaser Wynlee Wonder to win the Devonport Cup in 1982.

38 years on the Wynyard kennel continue to churn out winners with new kid on the block Wynburn Sheean, a son of Aston Dee Bee and She's All Class, right in the mix for next week's decider.

"It was a bold effort by Wynburn Sheean to win after he copped that early interference," Ben Englund said.

"He showed great tenacity to power through and get the job done."

Connections were dealt the pink rug for next week though Englund isn't too fazed by the wide draw.

"He knows the track well and the wide draw should keep him out of trouble," he said.

Other heat winners were Highland Chief (25.48), Gypsies Luck (25.71), Kintyre (25.70) and Siberia (25.52).

2020 Group 3 Ladbrokes Devonport Chase Final Box Draw (452m)

Box 1 – Zevatron / Paul Abela (VIC)

Box 2 – Siberia / Debbie Cannan (TAS)

Box 3 – Sprint Gordon / Blake Pursell (TAS)

Box 4 – Gypsies Luck / Anthony Bullock (TAS)

Box 5 – Kintyre / Debbie Cannan (TAS)

Box 6 – Highland Chief / David Crosswell (TAS)

Box 7 – Aston Pilsner / Paul Abela (VIC)

Box 8 – Wynburn Sheean / Ben Englund (TAS)

Reserves

No 9 – Run And Carry / Matt Lanigan (VIC)

No 10 – Mr. Camacho / Ted Medhurst (TAS)