Captain Crunch pair conquer in WA Derby

The Group 1 WA Derby proved to be a terrific showcase for the prowess of exciting young sire Captain Crunch’s progeny, with his sons Runkle Crunch and Captain Stirling quinellaring the $200,000 feature race at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Settling three back on the marker pegs from his second row draw, Runkle Crunch stormed home once clear at the top of the straight to score by three lengths from a brave Captain Stirling who flew home late from last to take second place.

It was Runkle Crunch’s break through Australian win, with the gelding having previously won four races in New Zealand, as well as having being placed fourth behind Marketplace in the Group 1 Northern Derby at Alexandra Park back in April before being exported.

Runkle Crunch’s Derby win took the Aiden De Campo trained and driven pacer’s career earnings to $182,587.

Bred by John and Trish Green, Runkle Crunch is out of the Mach Three mare Marcy Runkle.

The runner-up Captain Stirling took his earnings to just shy of $200,000 with his share of the stakes money.

Captain Crunch sired a double on the night, with his 3-year-old daughter Captainshavtime leading from start to finish and running the fastest last quarter of the evening to win the final race on the card.

Group 1 placed as a juvenile last season, she has now won nine races and $112,462 in stakes earnings.

With his oldest crop just three years of age this season, Captain Crunch has rapidly made an impressive impact at stud down-under, having notched up 107 individual winners already to date, five stakes winners, 17 stakes performers in total, and progeny earnings of over $3.3 million.