Runrunjimmydunn to buck the odds

Up-and-coming four-year-old Runrunjimmydunn is the youngest and least experienced harness racing runner in the $50,000 Easter Cup over 2902m at Gloucester Park on Thursday night; he will be contesting a standing-start event for the first time and has never raced over a distance longer than 2536m.

Therefore, it is reasonable to predict that the New Zealand-bred pacer, who will begin off the 30m mark, faces a significant test.

However, ace reinsman Gary Hall Jnr is brimming with confidence that the gelding will buck the odds and emerge triumphant in the Group 2 feature event which was first run 106 years ago.

“He’s racing in terrific fashion and I’m pretty confident,” Hall declared.

Runrunjimmydunn, prepared by leading trainer Gary Hall Snr, qualified to compete in a standing-start race when he began safely from behind the tapes at the Pinjarra trials last Sunday morning, two days after notching his 13th win from 32 starts when he settled down in eighth place and sustained a spirited three-wide burst which carried him from seventh at the bell to a stylish victory over classy stablemate Zennart over 2130m at Gloucester Park.

Hall, who needs three wins to bring up his century for the season, also has excellent winning prospects with Rocknroll Lincoln, King of Swing and Red October.

He is seeking his sixth victory in the Easter Cup after wins with The Falcon Strike (2003), Patches (2006), Uppy Son (2012), Rebel Scooter (2013) and Znana (2016). If Runrunjimmydunn wins on Thursday night Hall will equal the record tally of six Easter Cup wins, held by Chris Lewis, who has been successful with Pallaton (1980), Gold Rowan (1984), Village Kid (1987), Abmidas (1997), OK Windermere (who dead-heated with Patches in 2006) and Lovers Delight (2015).

Lewis also has sound prospects of adding to his record tally. He will drive the Ross Olivieri-trained Johnny Fox, who has finished brilliantly to win at his past two starts.

Johnny Fox will start from 20m, with Olivieri’s other runners Aurelius and Ruling Gold capable of bold showings. Aurelius, to be driven by Chris Voak off the front line, was a smart all-the-way winner in a 2503m stand last Friday night. Stuart McDonald will drive Ruling Gold, the sole runner off 10m. Ruling Gold won two 2503m stands in January and has been placed at his past two outings.

The class runner in Thursday night’s Cup is evergreen nine-year-old Bettors Fire, the sole backmarker off 50m who will be making his first appearance in a stand since winning over 2503m at Gloucester Park on November 14, 2014. He has a perfect record in stands in Western Australia, three wins from three standing-start events.

Bettors Fire also raced in 16 stands in New Zealand for seven wins and five placings. He revealed his great staying ability with a second and a third over 3200m and several wins over 2600m and 2700m.

Trainer-reinsman Kyle Harper said he expected the handsome gelding to run a good race at his first outing since he had no luck when last behind Chicago Bull in the Governor’s Cup five weeks ago.

Harper said that Bettors Fire was a speedy beginner in stands and that he was capable of unleashing a very fast quarter when held up for a late burst.

Devendra, The Bucket List and Tommy be Good will start from the 40m mark, with The Bucket List and Tommy Be Good capable of figuring in the finish.

Ken Casellas