Five-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding Cromac Johnny clinched a start in the $1.78 million V75 interdominion championship series next month when he gave a brilliant frontrunning display to score a runaway victory in the $25,000 Yes Loans Fremantle Cup Consolation at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

“He’ll be having a short let-up now before coming back for the inters,” said Karnup trainer-reinsman Grant Williams. “And if he maintains this form he’ll be pretty competitive in anything he contests.”

Cromac Johnny, whose price eased from 6/4 to 5/2 before starting at 9/4, bounded straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier when polemarker Real Life (backed from 13/2 to 7/2) jumped into the lead when the mobile barrier released the field, but immediately broke into a fierce gallop.

Cromac Johnny then made it a one-act affair as he bowled along in front, sprinted the final 800m in 57.8sec. and strolled to victory by just under five lengths from Tsunami Lombo, who fought on doggedly after trailing the leader throughout.

The 10/9 favourite Mysta Magical Mach worked hard outside the pacemaker before fading very badly over the final 250m to finish seventh, 62m behind the winner. He was badly distressed and had an elevated heart rate.

“I thought we were going to have to sit outside Real Life,” Williams said. “But when he galloped and we got to the front it was a huge bonus.”

Cromac Johnny is in the best form of his career and now has earned $189,115 from 21 wins and 17 placings from 59 starts.