Runkle Crunch strong win in WA Derby

Promising gelding Runkle Crunch (Captain Crunch) scored his biggest win to date when he finished strongly to take out the $200,000 Group 1 Sky Racing Western Australian Derby at Gloucester Park on Friday evening.

It was a triumph for his trainer driver Aiden De Campo who had only Runkle Crunch since August. He’d finished fourth at his only three previous Australian starts yet he had shown enough that he was ready to win, although maybe not a Derby at this stage.

In an action packed event the Oaks winner and favourite Fakenit was up early but Rumble Strip showed exceptional early speed to hold the lead from Lincoln Lou although Fakeinit was sent around to race outside the leader. Chase Me was behind the leader and Runkle Crunch from his second row draw was three back on the rails.

RUNKLE CRUNCH OCT 31 REPLAY

Troubadour one of Greg and Skye Bond’s five runners in the race was sent three wide at the bell and Chase Me was able to come off one off the fence.

Fakenit continued to pour the pressure on Rumble Strip in the back straight and meanwhile Runkle Crunch went further along the rails and then in a beautifully timed moment come off the fence to issue a strong challenge turning for home.

The striking brown gelding continued with his burst and he had just over seven metres to spare over Captain Stirling who finished well for second with Fakenit losing no admirers in holding third place after a hard run.

Again it was yet another masterly drive by De Campo who rates as one of the best tacticians in the sport.

A jubilant De Campo commented after the event.

If  you told me six weeks ago that this horse was going to win the Derby I would have said you would have to be dreaming. I’ve had so many problems with him and couldn’t get him right. I’ve got to credit the owners who kept faith in including the New Zealand owner John Green who kept half of him.

I was quite out of myst how to get him around the track, they told me two or three little things with him. It worked we got a perfect run with him, It worked out well for us.

When he got those splits down the back he wasn’t travelling like I wanted him to. But when he kicked on the corner he got the job done.

I watched him race one night I’ve got a few mates in New Zealand, think one of my mates ticked me one in the race. He sat in the breeze and ran home in 27 and he just looked so fast.

John Green is a good mate of Dad’s. Dad rang him and said do you want to sell him.  John said I’ll keep half and that made it easy for me. Tonight we got the reward.

I had all the steering gear on him and the easiest was to throw it all off him and put the Dollys on him. He seems to be getting better travelling around Gloucester Park.

It was a big night for De Campo as earlier his star mare Copy Cat Queen (My Hard Copy) showed a brilliant turn of  foot to take out the Golden Nugget Preview after enjoying a one out and one back trail.

A winner of the Group 3 Four Year Old Championship Copy Cat Queen has raced into contention for the $200,000 Group 1 event next Friday night at Gloucester Park.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink