Rhonda Hoping For Some Hometown Help

ROBIN Grubb continues his assault on Tassie feature events when his brilliant home-bred bitch Hello Rhonda lines up from box one in next Monday night's Group 2 A Total Car Rentals Launceston Cup Final (515m).

Incredibly, it's been 18 years since a Launceston-trained greyhound has won the Launceston Cup.

Hall Of Famer Top Shiraz, for breeder/trainer Pat McLenaghan, was the last local galloper to taste success, triumphant in 2001 at the former White City track.

St. Leonards-based Robin Grubb has a fantastic chance of rewriting the record books this Monday night with Hello Rhonda, the daughter of Fernando Bale and Sing The Song blitzing her way into the $40,000 to-the-winner feature with sizzling 29.78 heat success on Monday.

The fastest of the seven qualifiers on Monday night, Hello Rhonda jumped smartly from box three and once she took the lead out of the straight, the white and brindle bitch held all aces before staving off a late charge from Queenslander Brandi Alexander to score by a neck.

It was Hello Rhonda's ninth career victory from 22 starts.

"She keeps surprising us!" said a proud Robin Grubb.

"I didn't think Hello Rhonda would ever take to Launceston though her runs in the Rising Stars last month showed she had the ability around the circuit and she's just kept improving.

"I've always thought Hello Rhonda would make a name for herself. Early in her career, her littermates were racing against each other in the puppy classic races and setting the mark. Now she's won two features and is showing a lot of maturity."

Wild weather conditions played a factor in the seven heats on Monday night.

Multiple cup-winning trainer Ted Medhurst has qualified Victorian-owned sprinter Despacito through to the Launceston Cup, the son of Black Magic Opal pushing through at the first turn to lead all-the-way over Muppet in 29.98.

Hobart Thousand finalist Be Like Bill, for trainer Blake Pursell, was exceptional off the wide draw of box six to carve out strong sectionals, leading throughout to score by 3 ½ lengths over Winning Broke and Lenard's Boy in a slick 29.85.

The Grubb family have tasted success in the Launceston Cup as owner/breeders in partnership with the late Robert Sutcliffe when veteran chaser Fisherman claimed the title in 2011.

"Dad and mum had a few finalists over the years before I had my first cup runner with Sing The Song – box one is a big advantage for Hello Rhonda, it gives her every hope," Grubb stated.

L'ton Cup Box Draw: Hello Rhonda 1, Two Bills 2, Corykodi 3, Despacito 4, Buckle Up Rose 5, Brandi Alexander 6, Headspace 7, Be Like Bill 8 / Reserves: Wynburn Cha Cha & Winning Broke