Runkle Crunch strikes gold

Runkle Crunch delivered another dominant front-running display to claim the $200,000 Group 1 4YO Golden Nugget (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

From barrier three, the Aiden De Campo trained and driven son of Captain Crunch seized the lead in a fiercely contested opening 100m.

Runkle Crunch then controlled the race from there on out, holding off a late challenge from Lincoln Lou to win by 1.4m.

It was Runkle Crunch’s 10th career win and second Group 1 victory, following his WA Derby success last season.

His earnings now stand at $403,056, making him Captain Crunch’s highest-earning Southern Hemisphere performer to date.

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

It was a fabulous night for our stallions, with them siring the winners of half the Gloucester Park card. In addition to Runkle Crunch taking out the feature race, Always B Miki sired a winning treble with Ultimate Miki, Harrison John, and Franco Motu all saluting. Vincent, too, had a winner in Turbo Jay.