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Hall charges primed for big run in WA Derby

Headshot of Ernie Manning
Ernie ManningThe West Australian
El Barcelona in action at Gloucester Park last year.
Camera IconEl Barcelona in action at Gloucester Park last year. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian

El Barcelona and Runrunjimmydunn gave top trainer Gary Hall a strong hand in next Friday's $200,000 Group 1 WA Derby (2536m) when they won impressively at Gloucester Park tonight.

Hall’s reinsman son Clinton drove $1.20 favourite El Barcelona to an all-the-way victory in the Derby Prelude (2130m) and he rated 1:56.7 in scoring by 1.2m from Handsandwheels ($13.50).

New Zealand import Runrunjimmydunn, also driven by Clinton Hall, was a $1.30 favourite when making his WA debut in the Follow Gloucester Park On Facebook Pace (2130m).

Racing against older horses, he went to the front about 1200m from home and drew away to win by 22.25m with a 1:56.4 rate.

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Hall Sr is pursuing his fourth WA Derby in five years after successes with Alta Christiano (2013), Beaudiene Boaz (2015) and Chicago Bull (2016).

Clinton Hall said El Barcelona and Runrunjimmydunn were primed to run big races in the Derby.

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“El Barcelona was having only his second start after a 10-week break from racing,” the reinsman said. “He should benefit from the run.”

The gelding has won five races and run five places in a 12-start career.

Trainer Gary Hall with El Barcelona.
Camera IconTrainer Gary Hall with El Barcelona. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

Runrunjimmydunn, a winner three times in New Zealand, was driven patiently from the back line tonight. He settled in eighth position and was about 40m behind leaders until taken forward three-wide from the 1400m post.

“I didn't exert him in early stages,” Clinton Hall said. “This horse will have the speed to lead when asked for an effort at the start of races.”

Six-year-old Eyre Crusher, a stablemate of El Barcelona and Runrunjimmydunn, returned on a high note when winning the Book Into The Beau Rivage Restaurant Pace (2130m).

The gelding was having his first start after leg injuries kept him out of racing for almost two years.

Reinswomen Lauren Jones faced the breeze with Eyre Crusher ($2.90), who raced outside $2.60 favourite Webb Ellis.

Eyre Crusher drew clear at the 200m and went on to win by 1.2m while Webb Ellis finished ninth.

“I was confident after Eyre Crusher travelled really good," Jones said. "He dug in deep when New World Order came at him in final stages.”

Jones completed a double when winning with Hall-trained American Boy in the Celebrating Melissa Renouf Pace (1730m).

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