Runkle Crunch in dominant display in 4YO championship

Star four year old Runkle Crunch (Captain Crunch) justified the confidence that his trainer driver Aiden De Campo had in him when he showed too much zip in leading all the way in the Group 3 4YO Championship Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.

Prior to the event De Campo felt that he was in with a chance as he had drawn two and his main danger Cyclone Jordy was out in barrier five. And it worked out perfectly for De Campo when Runkle Crunch flew the gate and easily took up the running with Belly Up taking the trail behind the leader.

Cyclone Jordie didn’t show a great deal of dash at the start and Gary Hall Jnr was content to let him move up one off the fence facing the breeze. Even so he was always over a length behind Runkle Crunch and it wasn’t until the bell that he was able to move up to Runkle Crunch’s wheel. Belly Up was looking for a run but Runkle Crunch spaced his rivals with a third quarter of 27.1 seconds. Lincoln Lou who was one out and two back unleashed a run turning for home but Runkle Crunch kept going and he recorded a win by just under four metres with Belly Up in third place.

RUNKLE CRUNCH 9 OCT REPLAY

Hall Jnr when he realised that Cyclone Jordy was beaten just allowed him to stride to the line  and he ended up beating three home.

De Campo expressed his satisfaction after the event.

It’s a tiny bit of relief tonight. Actually I got nervous for the first time in a long time, tonight leading into this race. It’s not the be all end all tonight, there’s bigger fish to fry coming up. But he just travelled so well and he just covers the ground quite well. He probably didn’t feel like we were going as quick as what we were. And for the bell, I just wanted to keep Geordie (Cyclone Jordie) chasing me and I looked back halfway down the back and Ginny had the plugs out and my boy was traveling. I actually grabbed him up around the corner and then let him go up the top of the straight and he was super tonight.

I was a touch worried that Geordie might’ve had a bit too much speed for him early, but he actually ran the gate really well tonight. And I rolled that lead time. We could’ve gone a lot slower if we wanted to but he just wanted to keep rolling and in moderation and then carved out a good last twelve hundred.

Whilst the Golden Nugget is Runkle Crunch’s immediate task De Campo was cautious in contemplating a start in the $450,000 Western Australia Pacing Cup on 11 December.

It could be on the cards. We’ll just get through these four-year-old races first and let him do the talking and tell me if he’s ready or not.

Runkle Crunch’s win opens up the market for the Golden Nugget and Cyclone Jordy would be expected to improve on last night’s effort. Similarly Lincoln Lou on his run last night isn’t that far behind so the Group 1 $200,000 event to be staged on 6 November will be competitive with the barrier draw likely to determine who starts favourite.

 

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink