MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

Welcome to our January 18 edition of the Munce Racing Newsletter

ANOTHER NEW YEAR BEGINS FOR CHRIS & MUNCE RACING

It is hard to believe that it has been three years since Chris hung up his boots as a jockey to become a successful

trainer. My how time flies and, as always, the new year kicked off as busy as ever with races and sales to attend.

INTRODUCING NEW TEAM MEMBER FOR MUNCE RACING

We would like to welcome Glen Prentice to Team Munce.

Glen will be working in the office and will be a point of contact for all account enquiries as well as horse

updates and general questions. He is the current president of the Jockey Association and has previously

assisted Munce Racing when Chris first started out as a trainer however he returned to his full time job with

the ATO. Since then Munce Racing has continued to grow and with Glen coming back on board his previous

experience and knowledge will be invaluable.

Glen can be contacted on 0414 585 922 or email at admin@munceracing.com.au

THE 2018 MAGIC MILLIONS RACEDAY – SATURDAY THE 13/01/2018

Although Chris may not have had a runner in the 2-year old Classic this year he did have Saint Patricks Day in the 3-

year old Guineas and Snoopy in the Magic Millions Cup.

Saint Patricks Day had the task of jumping from barrier 16 on the day but in his true fighting spirit he fought on to run a

strong fifth, only four and a half lengths from the winner. One can only imagine what could have been if the barriers

Gods had been on our side at the draw earlier in the week…..

Unfortunately for our other runner Snoopy he did not fare as well. Obviously affected by the heat that day his

performance was not that of his usual high standard. Chris decided to give Snoopy a well-deserved break and he will

be back to take on all comers during the winter carnival.

Saint Patricks Day Snoopy

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

THE 2018 MAGIC MILLIONS SALES 10th -16th JANUARY

Kicking off on the Wednesday prior to the race day the yearling sales proved once again to be a strong force with prices

reaching astronomical highs. Nine lots made either a million dollars or more with the highest being $2 million for Lot

373 – a colt by I Am Invincible out of the Magic Albert mare Tai Tai Tess.

Munce Racing was in attendance and Chris was able to secure some lovey yearlings both for the stables and our

owners.

Lot 150 – The Wow Signal x Oomaroo (bay colt) – Fully sold

Chris thought this colt was a standout when he inspected him. His sire, The Wow Signal, is by Australian champion

Starspangledbanner, winner of four Group 1’s including the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, the July Cup at

Newmarket, the Oakleigh Plate and the Caufield Guineas.

The Wow Signal has all the attributes of his sire. He too also won at Royal Ascot when he claimed the Group 2

Coventry Stakes. He then went on to win the French Group 1 Prix Morny.

His dam side is no slouch either with Oomaroo being a half-sister to Group winning mare Thump and our very own

Snoopy. She has also produced Group 3 winner Mongolian Wolf.

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

Lot 620 – Shooting to Win x Coco Kerringle (bay filly)

The next purchase was a stunning filly by first season sire Shooting to Win. This filly really fits the mould, she is

extremely athletic, elegant and a beautiful moving filly. Chris believes she will be an early running type two-year-old

and thought she was a very good buy.

Her sire Shooting to Win is by the ill-fated champion stallion Northern Meteor. He won the G1 Caulfield Guineas and

was an impressive winner of the G2 Stan Fox Stakes. The only other horse to do this double was the great Lonhro.

Her dam, Coco Kerringle, is a half-sister to Mirjurlisa Lass winner of the Group 1 Stormqueen (now known as the Vinery

Stud Stakes).

There is still ownership available in the filly so if you are interested please contact us either via our webpage

http://munceracing.com.au or email us at admin@munceracing.com.au

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

Lot 692 – Toronado x Emma Princess (bay filly)

This beautifully bred filly by Toronado (High Chaparral) was a great value buy and looks to be a type that will be up and

running early. Chris says she is a lovey mover, physically powerful, tractable and shows plenty of toughness.

Her sire is a UK champion. Undefeated in 3 runs as a 2-year old and winning the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at

Doncaster. As a 3-year old he won the G1 Glorious Goodwood and the Group 3 Craven Stakes and at 4 years of age he

won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In a recent editorial in French racing newspaper Jour De Galop they were quoted as saying that Toronado was,

according to the ratings, the best miler to enter the stud farm Bouquetot Stud, in France, in the last three years.

Our filly’s dam, Emma Princess, was stakes placed as a 2-year old, pre-Christmas, in the Herald Sun Sprint, third

behind Hips Don’t Lie and Marveen. An added plus is that her breeder liked her so much that he has decided to remain

as a part owner.

There is still ownership available in the filly so if you are interested please contact us either via our webpage

http://munceracing.com.au or email us at admin@munceracing.com.au

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

Lot 970 – Sepoy x Lady Cat (bay or brown colt) – Fully sold

Our last purchase was a well grown, athletic, well conformed quality colt with plenty of scope. His sire, Sepoy, was an

Australian champion at 2-years of age and World Champion 3-year old sprinter at 3.

His dam, Lady Cat, was a Group winning mare in Peru. She is the dam of Law (Denman) who won the Listed Breeders’

Plate when trained by Gai Waterhouse before being sold to Hong Kong.

2-YEAR OLDS NAMED

CARTLAND – Written Tycoon x Verkko FIRANDE – Excelebration x Morning Dews

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

ACOUSTIX – Snitzel x Alberton Park RACECOURSE ROAD – Show A Heart x Kidnapper

MULGA THUMPER – Golden Archer x Pigtails MOSS CHEVAL – Mossman x Giuilia Di Francia

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

AROUND THE STABLE

At the time we sent out our November-December newsletter there were still some days of racing left before the end of

the year and we decided to go out with a bang on Boxing Day! With four runners in two states Team Munce had the

Christmas cheers with three winners and a second-place getter.

Dynamic Syndications’ s Argie Bargie started the ball rolling with an absolute dominant win, over 1310 metres, at

Ballina and breaking her maiden at the same time. Going straight to the front she rolled along, pestered only for a

short time by another runner. However, as Argie Bargie turned the corner jockey Jackson Morris let the reins slip

through his fingers and she was gone crossing the line some six and a half lengths in front of the field.

We then headed north to the Sunshine Coast where both Saint Patricks Day and Kingaroy were flying the flag for the

team.

Saint Patricks Day was next to race over 1400 metres and made it look easy leading from the front, which was not his

usual way of racing. ‘It was a different way of riding him today. He has never led before,’ said Chris. ‘It may have been

the slow run race and the blinkers back on that fired him up. But all up it was still a very convincing win.’

Four races later Kingaroy took his place in a 1600metre handicap and thrilled his owners when he made his move

coming from the back of the field, along the inside rail to hit the front with 200 metres to go and from there was never

going to be beaten. The win was even sweeter as he was coming off a win, three weeks earlier, same distance, same

track.

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

While the first couple of weeks of January were busy with the Magic Millions sales and race day, the winners returned

with Hancox Thoroughbreds pair of Johnny Whitesox and Expertea notching up wins and First Crush bouncing back to

his best at Doomben.

At his first start back from a decent break and with only an 840 metre barrier trial under his belt, Johnny Whitesox

showed his trainer the ability he has when he won a 1200 metre Class 1 sprint at Ipswich mid-week. A nice patient ride

by jockey Brad Stewart gave the gelding every opportunity. Even when race leader Don’t Leave Me Out had raced to a

four-length lead there was no panic from Stewart and at the right time he let Johnny go and boy did he go! Racing

right past Don’t Leave Me Out to go on and win by nearly four lengths.

Three days later at Doomben the colours of Shelly Hancox’s Hancox Bloodstock were at the forefront again when 4-

year old mare Expertea gave the field a galloping lesson when she won the seventh race on the card over 2200 metres.

Given a beautiful ride by Ronnie Stewart he had her positioned nicely behind the 2 front runners just stalking them

then until it was time to make a move. At the 800 she had moved into second spot and as they opened up down the

straight Ronnie gave the reins a shake and off she went. By the 200 metre mark she was three lengths clear and

unbeatable.

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

Earlier in the race programme stable stalwart First Crush bounced back to his best with a win over 1630 metres. With

the experience of senior jockey Larry Cassidy he was given the run of the race. Sitting in behind the leaders Larry kept

him on the inside rail, saving ground and waiting for the right time to make his move. When they hit the 200 metre

mark and one of the front runners began to drop out that is when Larry pulled Bruno out, around the heels of the

leader, to take the gap and under a good driving ride got the gelding up to win by a length and a quarter.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Eagle farm update

The new turf laid so far at Eagle Farm is taking hold well with a test patch revealing growth of the root structure ranging from 50mm to 75mm. Specialist turf consultants STC say the turf is growing well and performing to expectations. The primary contractors returned to the track last week after the festive season break and continued working on preparing the profile for the turf, which is being grown off-site. The reworked sand profile is being compacted on track and tested to ensure it is ready for the turf which will be washed before being laid.

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

Prize money increase Racing Queensland has announced an additional $12 million in prize money will be injected annually into the industry in a move that will provide a major boost to all stakeholders. The $12m increase will deliver an additional $8.6m to thoroughbred, $3m to greyhound and $400k to harness, which comes on top of the $3.2 million announced six months ago. The increases will take effect on a pro-rata basis from 1 February 2018 and will provide immediate benefits to industry participants. Racing Queensland CEO Dr Eliot Forbes said the new financial commitment follows the announcement by the Queensland government to commit $70 million to fund non-TAB thoroughbred racing in Queensland as a Community Service Obligation (CSO) over the next four years. “Metropolitan premier stakes races will be increased to $70,000 per-race from the current $60,000 while the two Saturday restricted grade races will now both carry minimum stakes of $40,000. Mid-week metropolitan races will also increase to $25,000, excluding maiden races.” “Racing Queensland will also introduce a new formula for distribution of prizemoney for all races of $25,000 and above. This move will see increased stakes paid back to minor placed runners enhancing the distribution of funds across participants. The revised break‐up will see prizemoney to the winner reduced to 61% (previously 64%) with the balance to be allocated to horses placed second to fifth.” Provincial clubs at the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Ipswich will have all maiden races boosted by $1000 to $15,000. “Regional provincial clubs will have standard stakes boosted by $2000 per race and northern feature carnivals will be increased by a total of $527,000 to be spread across carnivals from Rockhampton to Cairns.” Overall the additional money represents a 16.6% increase to metropolitan premier stake races while regional TAB races will see a 16 to 20% increase from their current stakes. Dr Forbes said, “Today’s prizemoney announcement is another step forward in delivering on Racing Queensland’s commercial plan to boost confidence and continue to bring meaningful benefits to industry participants.” From 1 July 2019, as forecast revenue increases materialise, Racing Queensland intends to introduce SEQ Provincial Showcase meetings with standard stakes raised to $20k and $18k for maiden races. Regional Provincial Showcase meetings will also be introduced with standard stakes raised to $18k and $16k for maiden races. It is also anticipated that midweek metropolitan maiden stakes will be raised to a minimum of $22,500 at this time. While the Racing Queensland Board has taken into account the CSO funding package in allocating increases for participants, additional meaningful benefits arising from the Tabcorp Tatts combination have also played a part. “Racing Queensland’s commercial plan had always targeted a significant increase in returns to participants but the Government’s CSO and the Tabcorp Tatts merger have given us the ability to move quickly. The benefits have been distributed by also taking account of the commercial impact of each code of racing.”

MUNCE RACING NEWSLETTER

Bartisms: It is hard to believe that this year in August it will 3 years since the great James Bartholomew Cummings passed away leaving behind a huge set of racing shoes that will never be filled. In our 2017 January newsletter we had a piece at the end called a ‘BARTISM’. It was very well known that Bart was famous for his one liners, quick witted and very dry they always brought a smile the face of the people who heard it. However, in this day and age with the way technology makes everything available to everybody within the space of minutes I think sometime that we forget to allow things to happen naturally. My favorite ‘Bartism’ is pretty simple……..

‘PATIENCE IS THE CHEAPEST THING IN RACING AND THE LEAST USED’

And who is to argue with the trainer who has won 268 Group 1’s, 12 Melbourne Cups including 5 quinellas. He trained 9 champion Horse of the Year and was the first to win a trainer’s premiership in 3 different states (NSWS, Vic & SA) in the one season, 1989/90. The list of his achievements goes on…….