Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Thirty-one years ago, renowned New Zealand trainer John Green brought Beefy T to Perth and stabled him at trainer Andrew De Campo’s Bunbury property, and the gelding thrilled WA pacing enthusiasts with an explosive finishing burst to win the prestigious Golden Nugget championship at Gloucester Park.
Driven by Rod Chambers, Beefy T charged home from last on the home turn with a spectacular sprint down the extreme outside of the track to get up and win from Tabaret.
Memories of that amazing performance were revived at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Runkle Crunch, bred and part-owned by 70-year-old Green, and trained and driven by De Campo’s 34-year-old son Aiden, scored a brilliant victory in the $200,000 Retravision Golden Nugget.
It was Aiden De Campo’s discerning eye which led to Green sending the Captain Crunch gelding to WA where he has developed into the State’s best four-year pacer, where his 16 starts have produced six wins, four placings and $339,439 in prizemoney.
“I watched Runkle Crunch win a race at Alexandra Park, and he went good,” said De Campo. “I contacted John and asked if he was for sale, and he told me that he would retain a half share and that Brian Hughes was willing to sell his half interest.
De Campo jumped at the opportunity, and the half interest is now shared by Geoff Lawler, Paul Poli, Peter Bloxsome, Glen Boyd, Howard King and Greg Mason.
And Poli, a successful businessman, revealed how De Campo had encouraged him to take a share in the Runkle Crunch, saying: “I had a lot of fun with Andrew De Campo with Dasher VC, Ohoka Ace, Lovers Delight and a few other horses.
“I used to see Aiden as a little kid in pony trots, and now he’s grown up and is killing the pig. I got a phone call from him about 18 months ago, and Aiden said he had found a real top-line horse he wanted to buy (and syndicate).
“So, we bought him and his first three races here were not so good, leaving Aiden scratching his head.”
Eventually, Runkle Crunch broke through for his first success in WA at his fifth appearance in the State, winning the $200,000 WA Derby in October last year.
De Campo said he would monitor Runkle Crunch’s progress before deciding whether to start him in the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup on December 11.
“I’ll run some bloods with him on Monday to make sure he has pulled up in good shape,” he explained.
Runkle Crunch, the $2.20 favourite from the No. 3 barrier, had to be driven hard to hold out $91 outsider Reinette, who was smartest to begin. Mad Monday ($2.90) settled down (from barrier six) in the one-out and two-back position before Deni Roberts switched him three wide and move the breeze in the first circuit.
After opening quarters Runkle Crunch increased the tempo with final 400m sections of 27.6sec. and 27.5sec. and went on to win by a half-length from the polemarker and $6 chance Lincoln Lou, who had trailed the leader throughout before sprinting home in dashing style. Lincoln Lou’s stablemate Stormy Vista ($41) also finished strongly to be third after trailing Lincoln Lou all the way.
Cyclone Jordy ($12) impressed when he flew home with a sparkling late burst to finish an eye-catching fourth after being in eleventh position at the bell. “If I had a bit of luck down the back (in the last lap) I reckon he could have given it a bit of a shake,” said his driver Gary Hall Jnr.