Rundle eyes Guineas birthday gift

By Glenn Davis

Rockhampton’s Stephen Rundle is enjoying one of his best seasons of training and is hoping to celebrate an early birthday milestone in the Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas on Saturday.

Rundle turns 50 on August 4 and will pop the champagne if either of his stablemates Heroic Talent or Be Bob Aloola are successful in the 1500 metre feature.

He has trained seven winners this season and is only one win away from equalling his best season’s tally of eight wins in the 2022-2023 season.

Rundle has been training since 2010 and is the son of Rockhampton trainer Jim Rundle.

Rundle and his father and mother, Kathy, own Be Bob Aloola, who is coming off a last start eighth in a 1200 metre QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap at Mackay on May 23.

Be Bob Aloola and Heroic Talent last met when Rundle sent the pair to Brisbane for a three-year-old race over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on March 7.

A son of Heroic Valour, Be Bob Aloola got the better of Heroic Talent on that occasion, finishing ninth, while Heroic Talent finished further back in 11th place in their only meeting.

“I sent them down for that Brisbane race as there were no suitable races for them over a bit of distance up this way,” Rundle said.

“Heroic Talent didn’t have much luck as he drew wide and got too far back.”

Rundle believes the decision to send the pair to Brisbane has benefited both gallopers.

“They’ve come back and are going well and I’m leaning to Be Bob Aloola as the better chance,” he said.

“I’m not frightened to give my horses a go in better races.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to ask the question with some horses.”

Rundle is striking at 13.2% this season with seven wins and 13 placings from 53 starters.

“I’ve got between a dozen and 15 horses in work at any one time and everything is going good at the moment,” he said.

“The oldest horses in my stable are only three and I’ve got seven of them and about eight two-year-olds.”

Rundle has booked jockey Tom Orr to partner Be Bob Aloola while Jason Taylor rides Heroic Talent, who finished in front of one runner at his last appearance in the Northern Jewel at Mackay on June 11.

Rockhampton jockey Raul Silvera Olivera normally rides both horses, but is sidelined by suspension.