Grubb Eyes Breeders Classic Crown

TRAINER Robin Grubb heads into Thursday night's HGRC Breeders Classic Final at Hobart with a three-pronged attack, led by star youngster Peco Can who continued her scintillating form to take out her heat in near record time last week.

Peco Can, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Sing The Song, made it four wins on the trot with a stunning 25.56 heat run, less than a length outside the 461m track record held by Above All at 25.52.
The Robin Grubb-trained bitch gapped her opposition to score by almost nine lengths from Muppet with Work Wear third, taking her overall winning margins to 27.5 lengths in just the three outings at the Hobart circuit.
It was her first attempt at a major feature and Grubb completed the night with a litter winning treble.
"Freakish, she is incredibly exciting to watch," praised Grubb about Peco Can.
"The first few metres are the worry for any dog, but Peco Can is just blessed with phenomenal pace and a huge motor to match which gives her the advantage, especially on a testing track like Hobart, she is definitely special and I'm privilege to have bred her," said Grubb.
"I was confident that she was primed for last Thursday and I've had dogs that take a few days to get over a run on this track. Peco Can is spinning around on the lead and looks really bright within herself and that's just the morning after."
Grubb takes a three-pronged attack into Thursday's Breeders Classic Final, with litter and kennelmate Hello Lenny putting his best foot forward to give the St. Leonards kennel honours in the opening heat.
A winner at two of five starts, Hello Lenny scored in front running fashion to win by one and half lengths over Wynburn Phoenix and Call Me Will in 26.19, producing splits of 5.13 and 11.19.
"Lenny is a dog that keeps battling away and continues to impress me with every run and the short break seems to have done him wonders and I couldn't be any prouder of the dog. He's not a quick beginner like his sister but he definitely knows how to find the front," said Robin.
In consecutive races, litter sister Hello Rhonda overcame a slight check to claim the second heat in 26.23.
The white and brindle bitch railed strongly underneath front runner Rewind's Return and pulled away to score by 2.50 lengths over the fast finishing Geneva Lee with Sulza Boy third, It was Hello Rhonda's second career victory from her fourth race outing.
"We never go to the races overly confident but heading down last week I thought we'd be lucky enough to get one winner let alone three, especially from the one litter which is a massive thrill – Hello Rhonda hasn't missed a place yet and she did a tremendous job to win as well," Grubb added.
The Grubb family are on cloud nine heading into Thursday's decider, having the three finalists, with Peco Can drawing the coveted red box, with Grubb remaining mixed on how his star performer will handle the trap.
"It will be interesting because there is huge gap down to the rail, she could cross too early but with her freakish talent and class hopefully she prevails," Grubb said.
Hello Lenny will exit from trap three and litter mate Hello Rhonda has draw out in box seven.
Hall Of Fame trainer Ted Medhurst will look to rewrite his record tally in the Hobart Breeders Classic as the master Mangalore conditioner will provide three finalists, led by heat winner Sebastian Lee who showed his rivals a clean pair of heals running 25.87 from box four.
"It's definitely a strong field and for us going up against the bigger kennels with three runners is something we'll never forget. Mum and Dad couldn't have been any more excited with this litter and it's give a huge thrill for everyone involved," Robin told.
Grubb says that his current group of chasers will give him his strongest chance so far of clinching a Breeders Classic at Hobart. Hello Pipit (High Earner x Stylish Moon) had won her heat and finished second in her semi-final in 2016, before running second to Elsey Gregg in the finale.