Golden Tribe is putting young trainer Tom Rundle on the harness racing map.
The unwanted colt, who was passed in at the Nutrien Equine Melbourne yearling sales and eventually snapped up for the bargain price of $10,000, has emerged as one of the top-line three-year-old talents here in Victoria during recent months.
His latest campaign has been a cracker, with a stunning first-up win at Ballarat in September setting the tone for a fourth placing in the Group 1 Victoria Derby a month later.
He heads into Saturday night’s APG Vicbred Super Series Final for three-year-old colts and geldings holding a legitimate chance of success, with a lovely barrier one draw giving his large ownership group plenty to get excited about.
That group includes Rundle’s family and friends, and even Brisbane Lions premiership player Darcy Gardiner.
Gardiner owns a share in the pacer under the banner of Gnotuk Equine Group, which he operates with former Lions footballer Lewis Taylor.
“Darcy and I text each other a fair bit and I let him know when he’s running,” says Rundle, who works full-time for legendary Bannockburn conditioner Geoff Webster. “He will send me a message after most starts, so he’s a pretty good owner to have in there.
“It’s pretty cool for someone like me to have a horse that does have a chance of running somewhere in a Vicbred final.
“That was the whole plan of going to the yearling sales – to try and get one like him – but it’s not usually that easy to come across. I’ve got lucky!
“We probably weren’t expecting too much from him, so to do what he’s done is pretty special. And to have Lochie Cook driving him most of the time is good, too.”
Rundle met Cook during a stint with the powerhouse Ecklin South stable of Marg and Paddy Lee during 2022 and formed a close bond with the young reinsman, who has partnered the son of Soho Tribeca to six wins.
“He’s grown into himself a bit more, filled out and he’s a nice, big, strong type now,” Rundle said.
“He’s really matured from that spell early on in the year.”
Golden Tribe opened $10 for Saturday night’s final, but was quickly backed into $5 to give both Rundle and Cook the biggest success of their young careers.
