Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond are hoping that Crunchnsip will emulate her half-sister Red Hot Roxy and become a rich classic winner this year.
Crunchnsip was the $2.20 favourite at her second race start when she began from barrier three and scored a decisive victory in the $21,000 Christmas In July Next Friday Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Red Hot Roxy, the first foal out of unraced For Starzzz Shark mare Gabriella Rocks, won the Group 1 $100,000 Sales Classic for two-year-old fillies in April 2016, and Crunchnsip, the seventh foal out of Gabriella Rocks, looks set to be a leading contender along with promising stablemates Slay Queen and Cocobolo for the Group 2 $100,000 Diamond Classic on August 8 and the $215,000 Westbred Classic on September 5.
“Crunchnsip made me work for it tonight,” said her driver Deni Roberts. “She is very green and big in condition, and out in front was to get going. She will improve on that run.”
Crunchnsip began from barrier three and took the lead after 200m before covering the first two quarters in 32sec. and 31sec.and then sprinted home with 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28sec. to beat Drop The Ace ($5.50) by 2m, rating 1.58.6.
Interestingly, a few hours before Crunchnsip’s win, her half-brother, five-year-old Rocket City rated 1.51.6 when he won a 1660m event at Brisbane’s Albion Park.
Rocket City and Crunchnsip were bred in WA by Steve Johnson, with Rocket City having earned $181,669 from 12 wins and ten placings from 39 starts. He won the Gold Bullion for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park in April 2023 after finishing second to Never Ending in the Group 1 Westbred Classic seven months earlier.
Crunchnsip, who was sold for $52,000 at the 2024 Perth APG yearling sale, has raced twice for a win, a third placing and $12,910 in stakes.