Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Ace trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo announced ambitious plans for Runkle Crunch after driving the gelding to an effortless victory in the $31,000 Ray Duffy Memorial over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He will now have a bit of a break before being prepared for the major feature events for four-year-olds in October and November, and then, maybe, the WA Pacing Cup,” said De Campo.
The major targets will include the $125,000 Four-Year-Old Classic on October 23 and the $200,000 Golden Nugget on November 6, and if Runkle Crunch performs satisfactorily in those events he will be set for the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 11.
Runkle Crunch, the $2.30 favourite, began smartly from barrier No. 5 on Friday night and sped to the front after 250m before setting a solid pace and winning by three and a half lengths from the $3.50 second fancy Im Lightning Banner, who trailed the leader throughout.
After fast final 400m sections of 27.6sec. and 27.1sec. Runkle Crunch rated a smart 1.54.6.
“He has so much upside and he has come back this preparation a different horse,” said De Campo. “It was nice tonight to see him show a bit off the gate, and he ran through the line easy, with the plugs in.”
Runkle Crunch, a winner at four of his eleven starts in New Zealand, has raced twelve times in WA for four wins and two seconds and boasts a career record of 23 starts for eight wins, three seconds and stakes of $232,653.