The American Ideal three-year-old winning a recent Byford trial. Photo by Scott Hamilton Media
Runrunjimmydunn, a recent arrival from New Zealand, is poised to make a successful Australian debut when he starts from barrier two on the back line in the Follow Gloucester Park On Facebook Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The American Ideal three-year-old is the youngest and least experienced runner in the 2130m event for C1 to C4-class performers. But the gelding who has won at three of his 11 starts in New Zealand looks to have a decisive edge in class on his 11 rivals.
He is prepared by ace trainer Gary Hall sen. and will be driven by Clint Hall, who drove the gelding to a runaway victory in a six-horse trial field at Byford on Sunday morning. He rated 1.59.8 in defeating Righteous Brother by 17 lengths, with final quarters of 29.1sec. and 27.1sec.
“He worked his way to the front in the trial and his final quarter was very good,” said Clint Hall. “Starting from the back line on Friday night shouldn’t bother him at all. He should be able to follow In Nyrobi, who looks the likely leader from barrier two on the front line.
“I would have preferred the front line on Friday night to test his gate speed., mainly because he has drawn the back line for most of his career.”
Runrunjimmydunn last raced when a splendid neck second to Northview Hustler over 2200m at Alexandra Park on February 24, rating 1.57.6 over 2200m, with final quarters of 29.3sec. and 28sec.
A 7/1 chance, he settled in eighth position before Maurice McKendry dashed him forward, three wide, after 550m. Then he was able to gain a one-wide trail in seventh place before starting another three-wide move approaching the bell. He moved to the breeze at the 900m and then again was able to gain a good sit, one-out and one-back, with 900m to travel. He finished strongly into second place.
At his previous start, a fortnight earlier, Runrunjimmydunn was an 8/1 chance and won at a 1.57.4 rate over 2200m at Alexandra Park. He raced wide early and moved to the breeze before gaining a trail, one-out and one-back, with a lap to travel. McKendry switched the gelding three wide at the 500m and he finished strongly to burst to the lead in the final 25m to win stylishly from the pacemaker Rhythm N Blues.
Runrunjimmydunn is a half-brother to Tosti Girl (19 starts for seven wins, six placings and $190,301), Delightful Soky (33 starts for two wins, seven placings and $13,680), Sir Tosti Boy (83 starts for 11 wins, 27 placings and $99,390) and Delightful Christian (42 starts for 16 wins, 11 placings and $297,501).
The powerful Hall stable also has bright prospects in the Book Into The Beau Rivage Restaurant Pace in which they will be represented by newcomer Webb Ellis and Eyre Crusher, who look set to dominate the betting after drawing barriers one and two, respectively, on the front line in the 2130m event.
Clint Hall will drive the New Zealand-bred five-year-old Webb Ellis, who has done his recent racing in New South Wales where his 23 starts produced eight wins and three placings. Gary Hall jun. will handle six-year-old Eyre Crusher, who will be making his first appearance since winning easily at Bunbury on April 25, 2015. That success followed runaway victories at Gloucester Park and Pinjarra at his two previous outings.
Webb Ellis has won at his two most recent starts, both over 1730m at Bathurst in the space of six days early last November. He began speedily from a wide barrier in both events in which he set the pace and won rating 1.56.3 and 1.54.5.
Eyre Crusher has been out of action for almost two years. He has shown wonderful potential, with his 14 starts producing seven wins, five seconds and one third placing.
