Hell Of A Fox has handled her stable switch seamlessly with new trainer Luke Pepper confident she can continue on her upward trajectory at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Pepper was transferred Hell Of A Fox midway through this preparation following stints with John Thompson and most recently Kristen Buchanan.
The daughter of Hellbent hadn’t tasted success in nine starts before ing Pepper’s yard but has made an immediate impression following the change of scenery with a win and a second in two starts for the stable.
“She has been pretty straightforward to tell the truth,” Pepper said.
“We changed a few things with her with a little bit of gear but nothing too serious.
Trainer Luke Pepper
“Riding her pretty conservative seems to work with her and I think the win at Wagga was really good.”
Hell Of A Fox will be hunting back-to-back victories for the new yard in the Country To Coast Western Wear Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
She surged home from back in the field last start to break her maiden over six furlongs at Wagga Wagga last start and gives Pepper every indication she can maintain the form at the provincials.
“She is in really good order,” Pepper said.
“It was a terrific win last start. She has only had the two starts for us, which have both been super runs.
“It looks to be a good target race for her.
“The only issue will be the track and she may not run if it gets too soft but we are happy with her other than that.”
Pepper will use the 3kg claim of apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag to get Hell Of A Fox in with the lightweight of 53kg.
Bookies rate Hell Of A Fox as a $6 chance in a race that includes Miss Spacegirl ($2.70) and Orthies ($3).
Pepper has accepted with Hell Of A Fox at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday as a back up plan if the Kembla surface gets too wet.
Pepper is having an outstanding season after making the decision to switch back to his old home base of Canberra from Scone.
He has already trained 43 winners for the campaign with an astonishing winning strike rate of 26.5%.
The stable has had 16 winners from the past 50 runners.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Kembla Grange meeting