Jimmydunn Keeps Running in Marathon Win
11 August, 2018
Harness
Trainer Gary Hall Snr and driver Gary Hall Jnr Have combined to win their third Marathon Handicap, with Runrunjimmydunn taking out the Listed feature at Gloucester Park last night.
The four-year-old shared favouritism with last year’s Marathon winner Motu Premier when the field jumped.
Devendra joined the two favourites on the Handicap of 40m for the $25,000 event and were able to link up with the leaders inside the first lap.
Always Arjay led for most of the race, before he was headed by Vampiro on the back straight the final time.
Hall Jnr settled Runrunjimmydunn towards the rear of the field in running, before the gelding unleashed a strong finishing burst in the home straight to claim placegetters Motu Premier and Vampiro.
Runrunjimmydunn rated 1:59.5, just outside Rocket Reign’s race record of 1:59.4 in 2014.
Hall Snr and Hall Jnr combined to win the Marathon with Imthemightyquinn in 2010 and again with Code Red in 2012.
Hall Snr said he had plenty of confidence in the gelding going into last night’s feature.
“I thought he would win,” he said.
“I was quite confident after the way he worked on Wednesday and his good run behind Chicago Bull.
“Gary, once again, drove him perfectly and got the chocolates.”
Hall Snr said he felt Runrunjimmydunn was starting to find his best form since coming to Australia and would be targeted towards the feature races over the summer period.
“Last year I thought he was a nice handy little horse but nothing special,” he said.
“When they’ve been here for a little while from New Zealand and get used to the conditions and my sort of training I think they get better and he’s done that.
“He’s a worthy Free For All horse, but a little below the top ones.
“He’ll be in the Pacing Cup and the Fremantle Cup, whether he can win them or not he’d have to have a lot of luck.”
The Marathon Handicap completed a successful week for the Hall team, after Ima Rocknroll Legend won the Cricket On Seven Pace (2536m), as well as King Of Swing’s win at Gloucester Park on Tuesday.
King Of Swing lines up again on Tuesday in the JP’s Sportsbar Pace (2130m) and is expected to start a short price favourite again.
Elsewhere at Gloucester Park last night, trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice scored a winning double, with the inform Natural Disaster bringing up his third straight win, while Our Corelli upstaged his more fancied rivals to take out the opening event of the evening.
Another of the highlights on the program was the Sunrise On Seven Pace (2130m), which was taken out by the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Rock Diamonds.
The multiple Group 1 placegetter started a $26 chance on TABtouch, as driver Chris Lewis wasted little time looking for the lead.
The four-year-old was never troubled in front, going on to win by five metres.
The Bucket List ran on well to finish second, while race favourite Bettors Fire couldn’t find the front from the start and resulted in him having to settle for a third placing.
Tim Walker
Photo: Scott Hamilton Media