Classy four-year-old Runkle Crunch has resumed after a beneficial summer spell and is much stronger than he was as a three-year-old.
He was the $1.80 favourite from out wide at barrier seven in the 2130m Bill Crabb Memorial Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he gave a spirited performance to come from last in the middle stages, and fifth out three wide at the bell to get to the front with 220m to travel on his way to winning by a length from $51 outsider Chivalry.
“He has come back like the horse we bought,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo. “I had a lot of trouble with him last preparation when he got crook three or four times, and I couldn’t get him steering or pacing properly.
“And now he seems to have no hiccups in this preparation. He has come back stronger, and I have learnt a fair bit about the horse who is impressing me every time he comes to the races.
“He is a horse that you don’t overwork and make sure he is feeling good in himself. I have always thought he was a better speed horse than he is tough. But in his past three runs (his first as a four-year-old) you can’t say he is not tough.”
The final 400m sections of Friday night’s event were covered in 27.6sec. and 28.2sec. and Runkle Crunch’s victory enhanced his prospects of winning the $100,000 Preux Chevalier Classic for four-year-olds next Friday night.
Despite his problems as a three-year-old Runkle Crunch overcame those setbacks to score a brilliant victory over Captain Stirling and Fakenit in the group 1 WA Derby last October.
Other horses who showed on Friday night that they would be worthy runners in the Preux Chevalier Classic included Lazi Dais and Beaudiene Hunter.
Beaudiene Hunter, the $3.10 second fancy driven by Chris Voak for owner-trainer Tony Giglietta, was most impressive when he began from the outside of the back line in the 2130m Barbagallo Rolls-Royce Pace and raced three wide for the first 500m before surging to the front and then setting a brisk pace on the way to winning by two and a half lengths from Franco Mecca ($31), with the $1.75 favourite Rox the World settling down in eighth place and sustaining a strong three-wide burst from the 1000m to be an encouraging third.
Beaudiene Hunter rated1.57.4 after final quarters of 28.2sec. and 28.7sec. and is sure to prove a good buy for Giglietta who paid $25,000 for the gelding after he had raced eight times in New Zealand for one win and three placings. His eight WA starts have produced three wins and two placings.
“He wasn’t extended,” said Voak. “And I predict a bright future for him.” Beaudiene Hunter has won at his first two starts as a four-year-old. He is by American sire Stay Hungry and is the second foal out of the Badlands Hanover mare Beaudiene Blinkz, who was retired after finishing last in a race for two-year-old fillies at Alexandra Park in January 2019 at her only appearance in a race.
Giglietta is well remembered as the part-owner and sometime trainer of Aussie Reactor, who caused a major upset when he got up in the final stride to win from James Matthew (undefeated at his first ten starts) in the Golden Slipper in July 2008.
Lazi Dais, trained by Ryan Bell and driven by Ryan Warwick, was the $1.90 favourite when he gave a bold frontrunning display to win easily from Major Miki Whitby ($18) in the $23,000 Barbagallo Lamborghini Westbred Pace for four and five-year-olds over 2130m.
He began from barrier six and dashed to the front after 120m and set a moderate pace before sprinting over the final quarters in 28.6sec. and 27.5sec.
His win was his fifth from five outings this season and improved his career record to 20 starts for ten wins, four placings and $117,945.
“It feels that he’s not quite got the all-round game, but he definitely feels like he has got it there somewhere,” said Warwick. “He felt like every time I wanted something, there was something there, and I didn’t have to ask for a lot. There’s definitely a motor there.”
