Gai’s Runaway hit

WHILE Gai Waterhouse has dominated the eastern seaboard, Tasmania has not been a happy hunting ground for the training icon.

But Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott are hoping their stayer and former hurdler Runaway can finally secure a Group victory for the Hall of Fame trainer on the island state.

Runaway comes to Wednesday’s Group 3 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup (2400m) on the back of an impressive win over 2000m at Flemington just over a week ago.

The six-year-old, bred and part-owned by Rosemont Stud, won a Geelong Cup before contesting the 2018 Melbourne Cup, in which he finished well down the track.

He was spelled and after two more country cup campaigns, he was prepared for a stint over hurdles.

Runaway won a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool over 3230m at his first try.

He finished second in last year’s Australian Hurdle (3900m) at Sandown behind Gobstopper But two starts later, he failed to finish after leading in a 3500m hurdle at Pakenham in July last year.

But a spell appears to have given Runaway a new lease on life and after two down-thetrack results, he won a trial at Geelong over 1500m with Craig Williams aboard by leading throughout. He then went to Flemington and came from last to win as the rank outsider ($31) in a benchmark 84 over 2000m with Damien Oliver aboard.

Bookmakers have installed the six-year-old rig on the third line of betting at $4.80 behind Hobart Cup winner Double You Tee ($3.20) and Hobart Cup third placegetter Barade ($4.50).

Runaway’s price eased momentarily to $5 but that was snapped up quickly and it would not surprise if the son of Manhattan Rain starts favourite. Double You Tee goes up 4.5kg for winning the Hobart Cup because he earned nine rating points for his efforts.

Runaway meets Classic Weiwei and Barade, who finished second and third respectively in the Hobart Cup, much worse at the weights.

Despite the significant weight rise, bookmakers still rate him superior, opening him at $3.20. But the Written Tycoon gelding will likely drift to a more reasonable price.

Good money has already arrived for the Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn-trained Captain Cook ($26 into $18).