Peco Can Primed For Devonport Chase Tilt

BRILLIANT litter sisters Peco Can and Hello Rhonda spearhead an all-star cast of local sprinters set to contest Tuesday's heats of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Devonport Chase over the 452 metres.

Six heats of the $25,000 to-the-winner series have been penciled in for decision, with the depth of quality in the local sprinting ranks one of the key reasons the group 3 event is absent of any interstate visitors.

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For trainer Robin Grubb, Tuesday's heats couldn't come around quick enough, over the moon about having Peco Can and Hello Rhonda fit and firing heading into a big summer of racing on the Apple Isle.

"It's shaping up as a great day of racing," Grubb beamed.

"I'm over the moon that Peco Can is back up and going; it's been a bit of a slog over the past few months getting her over some issues and injuries.

"I'd say she's about 90% going into the heats; she'll be better for the run."

Winner at 26 of her 33 starts, Peco Can, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Sing The Song, lines up in heat four of Tuesday's Devonport Chase from box six, chasing a third straight win since her injury enforced layoff.

"I don't mind her drawn out wide in six," Grubb said.

"Her two wins back have been good. About a month ago I had the clock on her and I wasn't all that happy so I had some blood work done and it showed up she had a urine infection. She's over that all now and feeling great; I'm confident but it's hard not to be when you take her to the races."

Peco Can, considered Tassie's number 1 sprinter since bursting onto the scene back in April 2018, has seen that mantle begin to slip in recent times, following the emergence of record breaking litter brothers Raging Ralston and Stanley Gordon.

The idea of a potential clash between the Ted Medhurst-trained sons of My Bro Fabio and Grubb's star sisters in next week's group 3 Devonport Chase is one worth salivating for.

"There's some very good dogs going around in the heats but I wouldn't swap my two girls for anything," Grubb added.

Group 2 Launceston Cup hero Hello Rhonda is scheduled to contest heat five on Tuesday from box five, early markets installing the 19-time winner a $3.40 second favourite behind box eight runner Atley Quick.

"I still say she's a better two turn dog but her record at Devonport is very good as well … she gives her all every start," Grubb offered.

"I don't think she's badly boxed in five and I thought the pink dog (Atley Quick) had his chance to win last week. If she gets a clear run early she'll be hard to hold out."

While Peco Can and Hello Rhonda are front and centre for Grubb at Devonport on Tuesday, the St. Leonards trainer also lines up littermates All Yap (race 1), Stylish Odds (race 2) and Sir Rogan (race 3) in the opening three events of the program.

By Thirty Talks, the trio are younger siblings of Peco Can and Hello Rhonda.

"If you put me on the spot I'd say All Yap is the best of the three," Grubb said.

"She's still in juvenile grade and she's got her share of ability … she's best placed I'd say.

"Sir Rogan lost the turn at his first Launceston 515 metre run last week so I expect him to improve getting back at Devonport."

Back in January, Grubb's grand chaser Hello Nugget finished second at big odds in the Devonport Cup Final behind Corykodi.

The race has since undergone a name and date change, now scheduled to kick off a big month of racing in Tassie.