Tears Flow Following Rhonda's Cup Win

HOMETOWN favourite Hello Rhonda claimed a deserved group race breakthrough for trainer Robin Grubb with a popular victory in the Group 2 A Total Car Rentals Launceston Cup (515m) on Monday night.

 It was a whirlwind 24 hours for Robin Grubb and his wife Jayne as just a few hours prior to the running of the $40,000 to-the-winner Launceston Cup, their daughter Katie gave birth to a third child – Henry Raymond Wright.

"It's been an unreal 24 hours! Winning the Launceston Cup on top of the birth of our grandson is an unbelievable feeling," said a beaming Grubb on Tuesday.

Hello Rhonda's victory in the Launceston Cup delivered owner/breeders Beverly and Robert Grubb a second title in the group 2 event, following Fisherman's 2011 success.

Hello Rhonda, by phenomenal sire Fernando Bale from Grubb's top-class bitch Sing The Song, made her group race debut in Monday's Cup decider, stepping out as the fastest qualifier following her sizzling 29.78 heat performance last Monday week.

In Monday's finale, Hello Rhonda came out running and led Corykodi who was hot the heels of the favourite heading into the first turn.

Working hard throughout, Hello Rhonda dug deep, pulling away from Corykodi in the home straight to score by 1 ¾ length over the fast finishing Be Like Bill. Corykodi held on gamely for third.

"This bitch has just kept improving, I couldn't be happier with the result," said Robin Grubb.

"Hello Rhonda has lived in the shadow of her sister Peco Can for quite sometime but in the last few months she has become a brilliant bitch herself, it's such a big buzz for our family. It is certainly the biggest win I've ever had!"

Hello Rhonda has now won 10 of her 23 starts with her cup spoils taking her stakes to $66,955.

Grubb praised the help of some key people in Monday night's speech, most notably Doug Cassidy.

"Doug has been a huge help to me ever since dad got sick," said Grubb.

"Without his help with the dogs, educating the pups and just general things around the kennels we wouldn't be where we are now – we can't thank him enough."

Grubb is not one to be superstitious, though leading into Monday night did admit to reading his star sign of all things earlier in the day.

"I normally don't take any interest in that stuff but yesterday Jayne was sitting at the table and she read my star sign (Libra) and it said we were going to have a great day. We did!

"Our daughter Katie wasn't due for a fortnight and five minutes after reading the paper the phone rang with the news she'd be giving birth Monday. It's been a special week!"