Rojo Diamond Sets Hobart Thousand Pace

TRAINER Robin Grubb declared he is "in awe" of his topline sprinter Rojo Diamond after he clocked the fastest time of the night winning his heat of the Hobart Thousand (461m) on Thursday night.

Both trainer and greyhound will get a second shot at the $150,000 Group 1 feature after running third in the final last year.

From box four in the second heat, Rojo Diamond began at high speed from the middle and led all-the-way, holding out the fast-finishing Crackerjack Aret and Ready To Sting to set a personal best of 25.58.

The son of Fabregas and Sing The Song won by a length, notching up his 37th win for the Gold Nugget Syndicate.

“Just unbelievable … he began really well – just putting the pedal down and away he went,” Robin Grubb said.

After finishing third last year, Rojo Diamond has qualified for another @ladbrokescomau Hobart Thousand Final, posting 25.58s in the second heat.

An upset in the first heat where Law Raine for Debbie Cannan won in 25.77s pic.twitter.com/ZfDWh3F8PB

— Tasracing Australia (@TasracingAus) December 7, 2023

After 68 lifetime appearances, winning 24 races over the 461m trip in Hobart, Robin elected not to start his star chaser since the Tassie Gold Cup success.

“He's rising four years of age,” Robin said.

“We try to space his runs mapping out feature races, and the gap between the Gold Cup and Hobart Thousand worked in well, he is such a competitive chaser and running him every second or third day with a free gallop suits him nicely.”

Law Raine, Rojo Diamond and Ducati Roy (fastest second placegetter) will represent the locals in the final.

Anakie trainer Tom Dailly lines up with Shima Shadow in the $100,000-the-winner Hobart Thousand as one of five interstate runners to either take out a heat or successfully qualify through to the final.

The son of Bernardo clocked 25.72s winning his heat by 1-1/2 lengths from Rojo Boloney and Hit The Switch.

Jason Thompson is no stranger to success in the Hobart Thousand and looks to be well in contention of claiming a third victory following Got Attitude's 25.65 heat win.

In the care of local trainer Mick Stringer for the series, Got Attitude notched his 14th victory for owner Robert Bean, who also successfully owned and bred Aussie Secret to win the 2021 Hobart Thousand.

Starline Express, Crackerjack Bull and Crackerjack Aret (second fastest 2nd placegetter) make up the field.

Field for the $150,000 Group 1 Hobart Thousand Final

• Law Raine – Debbie Cannan (TAS)
• Rojo Diamond – Robin Grubb (TAS)
• Crackerjack Bull – Jordan Cooper (VIC)
• Starline Express – David Geall (VIC)
• Shima Shadow – Tom Dailly (VIC)
• Got Attitude – Jason Thompson (VIC)
• Crackerjack Aret – Jordan Cooper (VIC)
• Ducati Roy – Mick Sherriff (VIC)
• Rojo Boloney 1st Res (TAS)
• Power Band 2nd Res (TAS)

Box draw for the 2023 Hobart Thousand Final will be held in conjunction with the Tasmanian Greyhound Hall Of Fame presentation ceremony dinner at Elwick Racecourse on Saturday night, December 9.