Spanish Flavour To Stringer's Thousand Bid

MANGALORE trainer Mick Stringer couldn't be more pleased with Despacito's lead up to Thursday night's Group 1 Sky Racing Hobart Thousand Final (461m), following the fawn sprinter's spectacular performance in the heats last week.

Looking to follow in the footsteps of his multiple group winning sire and former Hobart Thousand winner Black Magic Opal, Despacito will all but seal group 1 glory if he can repeat his sizzling 25.62 heat performance posted last Thursday.

Running the fastest time from the six run-offs, Despacito showed his ‘wheels' at his second Tasmanian start, producing strong sectionals before delivering a top-class effort, scoring by 7 ¼ lengths from Lenard's Boy and Two Bills.

It was Despacito's 13^th career victory from a 41 start career. So far.

"I couldn't be more satisfied in the way the dog (Despacito) has performed in the two starts since he has been here, the run last Thursday showed the acceleration he has, he just needs that bit of luck early," Stringer said of Despacito.

"Seona (Thompson) sent this dog in top condition and he's at his best and ready to go. Despacito has proven he can mix it with the best in top grade company and coming off a 29.86 run at Wentworth Park proves that point."

Mick's association with the Black Magic Opal x El Brooklyn litter has reaped top rewards, combining earlier this year when smart-type Hemsworth who created headlines, winning his first nine starts before tasting defeat to Del Rey in the Launceston Cup back in February.

"The dogs I've been fortunate to train from this litter have all been smart chasers and Despacito is the real deal as far as I'm concerned. He has brilliant mid-race pace which is the key, it's a very even final, they are all very competitive dogs," added Mick.

Richard and Jillian Stamford – boasting a decorated Hobart Thousand history – produced Stop Line for a third straight victory to land the fourth heat in a red-hot time of 25.68 last Thursday.

By St. Pierre from Topline Doovee, Stop Line flexed his powerful hind legs to uphold his recent Gold Cup form, scoring by 4 ¾ lengths over Hello Rhonda, bringing up his 11^th win from just 16 starts.

Brilliant local bitch Peco Can made it a "perfect 10" over the 461-metre trip by taking out the third heat, staving off a late drive from Wynburn Cutie to score by three quarters of a length running 25.91 from box one.

Trainer Robin Grubb has timed the daughter of Fernando Bale and Sing The Song's preparation to perfection in recent months, and coming up with the red box is an advantage in any group final which will give the brindle speedster every hope of landing the title come Thursday.

Mick Stringer knows what it takes to win a Hobart Thousand having done so in 2008 with Little Spaniard, ironically another Spanish-themed name like Despacito, and producing a memorable quinella with Topline Doovee, who interestingly is the dam of rival Thousand finalist Stop Line.

"I wouldn't swap Despacito for any other runner," Stringer proudly stated.

"It's one of the best finals in years and a very even field with all runners having a strong chance. Peco Can (box one) is a smart bitch who can run a flying early split and Leeroy Rogue (box three) will give us room at the start knowing his risky box manners."

"I've got Huxley (Paul Abela) staying with me for the series and I galloped both him and Despacito at Brighton early this week and they are both jumping out of their skin and have pulled up well from their runs last week.

"I think Huxley is the smoky of the race because he just went so well on Thursday coming from out wide and he was able to cross the field and pull away to run a brilliant time in his heat.

"The dog comes off some pretty smart wins at Ballarat and Bendigo before he came across so that just proves the dog is flying and speaking to Paul (Abela) he is rapt the way the dog went so you can't ask for more than that," Mick said.

Since the TAB markets opened on Sunday for the $75,000 to-the-winner feature, Peco Can is now out to $3.30 from $2.30 with Despacito now second favourite at $3.50, ahead of Orson Allen from box eight at $3.80 and with Huxley at $5.00

"Group races do add pressure to anyone, but I've always just gone about treating it as just another race. It would be nice to win the Hobart Thousand again and the Thompsons are good friends and they couldn't be any happier whatever the result."