By Duane Ranger
Brian (Bunty) Hughes has two nice 3-year-olds lining up at Cambridge Raceway tonight (Thursday) – a filly and a gelding which the stable both rated each-way prospects.
Hughes’ right hand man, and son, Gareth is one of the most humble horsemen going around, but reading between the lines while talking to him you can’t help that feel Youshallnotpass(race 4) and Runrunjimmydunn (race 9) are above average.
Hughes said they could both win, but rated American Ideal filly Youshallnotpassthe better chance of the two – simply because she had drawn better.
“Dad has a high opinion of them both, and even though they have been trialling well, they both badly need racing experience.
“The filly has drawn well at four, but Runrunjimmydunnhas drawn eight of eight in a smaller field,” Hughes said.
Youshallnotpass will make her race-night debut in the $6,000 Gold Ace A Nevele R Stud Fillies & Mares Mobile. She qualified 4.1. seconds under the required time at Pukekohe in January and comes into her first race with a half-length (2:04.1 mile rate) victory at the Alexandra Park Workouts last Saturday.
Tonight’s pilot, Maurice McKendry, has reined the bay in all five of her trials and workouts races.
“She’s a nice filly who is a home-bred (out of Artiscape mare Twice As Great). She qualified as a 2-year-old. Ring-craft and experience is what she’s lacking now but she has the ability and draw to win.
“We will take just one race at a time with her, but the Sires Stakes at Cambridge in a fortnight is the next mission for Runrunjimmydunn. He’s ready to run a race and I think it’s only the draw that can stop him from going close,” Hughes said.
The 30-year-old Clevedon trainer said Runrunjimmydunn ran a brave third behind Casino Belle at Alexandra Park on March 31.
“We gave him one run as a 2-year-old and then tipped him out. The Sires Stakes has always been the plan. We will know this month if he’s up to that class, but we certainly like him all right. He also paces very well,” said Hughes.
He will also be driven by McKendry in the $6,000 Ames Waikato TAB Mobile Pace.
Runrunjimmydunn is a son of American Ideal and the un-raced Delightful Paula (by Jaguar Spur). He hails from a nice family.
Older siblings Whambam (Christian Cullen) won 18 races and more than $580,000 here and overseas; Tosti Girl (Christian Cullen) won seven races and just under $200,000; and Delightful Christian (Christian Cullen) won nine races and just under $220,000.
Runrunjimmydunn has finished second at his last two Alexandra Park Workouts the last two Saturdays.
“He will benefit from Thursday’s run. He’s done a good job since spelling. We know he can pace a bit, but it’s one step at a time with him for now,” Hughes said.
He and his father work about 13 at Clevedon, spearheaded by The Orange Agent and Hughie Green.
The former is still boxed and is recovering from a leg injury, while the latter is now five, but hasn’t been nominated for the New Zealand Cup.
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