Welcome to our September/October edition of the Munce Racing Newsletter Hard to believe that there are only 7 more Saturday race meeting until Christmas!! AROUND THE STABLE 2-Year-Olds Things have been busy on the home front with a couple of our 2-year-olds making their debuts on the racetrack and others going through their first or second preparations. Back on the 7 th of October Pony Power kicked off her racing career at the Gold Coast when she won the first 2-year-old race of the 2017/18 season. This beautifully bred filly, by Foxwedge, is the first foal of the Lonhro mare Lonoree, whose bloodline goes back to Denise s Joy. The family includes the great mares Tuesday Joy, More Joyous and Sunday Joy. She is currently having a well-deserved break but will be heading back into the stables soon as Chris aims her towards the Magic Millions 2-year-old Classic in January. Our other 2-year-old that has made her racing debut was Ceol Na Mara (Your Song x La Marama). She may not have been as successful as Pony Power but it was a big learning experience for her and it will only help with her education. Her racing name translates to the music of the sea in Irish Gaelic. Considering her owner is Irish we think she is well named.
Older horses While the 2-year-olds have been going through their paces our older horses have also been doing the stable proud. After a couple of luckless seconds, Washington Street (Toorak Toff x Peacock Sally) finally broke his maiden at Lismore at his fourth start back from a spell. With stable pony Oakey to keep him company on the trip, Washington Street made sure he gave his owners a bit of a scare when he decided to drift across the track to go from the inside rail out towards the middle of the track. Jockey Ronnie Stewart was able to keep him from drifting too far wide but it was hard work. Dazzling Red (Red Dazzler x More Than Sharp) was another one of our boys to break his maiden in what is his third preparation. He has had two starts since coming back from a spell and has walked away with 2 wins. First up over 900 metres at the Gold Coast and then a trip to Beaudesert to win over 1100 metres. Showing his versatility, he won on a Good 3 and a Soft 6 track. Chris is now aiming him towards a city start on a Saturday over the 1200 metres. On the same day that Dazzling Red won his second race, Cauthen s Power (Road to Rock x Minori Express) stepped up at the Sunshine Coast an hour and a half later to make it a double for Munce Racing. A tinkering with his gear and different riding tactics gave the horse every chance and he did not disappoint. He ended up winning by half a length and at any old odds of around $45!! Dazzling Red Cauthen s Power
A great weekend for Chris and Munce Racing The weekend of the 14-15 th of October was a special weekend for the stable as well as for Chris himself. It started with D Amore D Merrier breaking her maiden at the Gold Coast on the Saturday. Chris is no stranger to this family as he had ridden her dam Aqua D Amore for Gai Waterhouse. From the 4 rides on Aqua D Amore he had two wins, a second and a third. On the Sunday, we had four runners going around at the Sunshine Coast. Lucky Jackson kicked off the day when he won the first of the day and, in the process, broke his maiden at his third start. Next was Captain Dodge in the fifth race. He finished off the race in third position but he did well on a track that was rated a Heavy 10. Race 6 produced our next winner when Son OF A Brut proved too strong when coming from behind to win by half a length and then to cap of the day, Royal Hootenanny won the final race leading all the way. Thanks to jockey Ronnie Stewart who rode all 3 winners that Sunday. By the end of the weekend Chris had reached the milestone of training 100 winners in Queensland and 105 winners all up (102 in Qld and 3 in NSW). A wonderful effort by the former hoop who has only been training since 2015. D Amore D Merrier Lucky Jackson Son Of A Brut Royal Hootenanny
Noteworthy mentions Other horses that have that deserve a mention are Captain Dodge, Dazzling Grey and Lucky Jackson. Even though they did not get the bikkies on the day their runs were enormous and they can all hold their heads high. Both Captain Dodge and Dazzling Grey were relegated to second position in a photo finish. Unfortunately, the bob of the head did not go our way on both occasions and they raced only a day apart. It sure does sting but that is racing! Lucky Jackson was backing up after breaking through at the Sunshine Coast in a 3-year-old Colts and Geldings Maiden Plate (set weights) over 1400 metres on a Heavy 10 track. This time he was in a Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1710 metres on a Firm 2 at Grafton, so he was stepping up in distance and grade. To run second by only a head was very pleasing and Chris is now looking at Rosehill for his next start. Captain Dodge (blinkers): 28/10/17 Class 2, 1400m at the Gold Coast 2nd by 0.1 of a length Dazzling Grey (outside): 27/10/17 Maiden set weights, 1400m at Gatton 2nd by 0.1 of a length
Lucky Jackson (outside): 31/10/17, Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1710m at Grafton 2nd by a head MORE 2-YEAR-OLDS HAVE BEEN NAMED Deneuve (Wicked Style x Zerotami filly) Mem s Magic (Foxwedge x Authoress filly) Adrenaline Global Choice (Choisir x Global Start filly) - Adrenaline Catastrophic (Smart Missile x Foscat colt) - Adrenaline
CHRIS & DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS REACH MILESTONE TOGETHER Back in 2004 Chris Munce rode Savabeel to win the Cox Plate that year. He also won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and ran second in the Victorian Derby in the same year on the colt. Dean Watt, from Dynamic Syndications, helped Graeme Rogerson syndicate the colt after he was purchased as a yearling and then acted as the horse s racing manager. From these beginnings, both a friendship and working relationship was built between Dean and Chris which would ultimately lead to Dean sending Dynamic horses to Chris to train. The first two horses to arrive at the stables were Specific Choice and Perplexity in January 2015. Arriving together, from Chris Waller, the two horses would end up being Chris s first winner and his first metropolitan winner. But the big milestone that was reached together was when D Amore D Merrier broke her maiden on the 14 th of October 2017 at the Gold Coast. This turned out to be the 500 th winner for Dynamic Syndications!! First Winner: Specific Choice (Lonhro x Lady of Choice) 25/02/2015 at Ipswich over 1666m by 1.3 lengths
First Metro Winner: Perplexity (Lonhro x Secret Haze) 11/04/2015 at Doomben over 2200m by 0.3 lengths HORSES AVAILABLE Written Tycoon x Verkko Filly Chris has said that when he first saw her she looked a very strong type and had a good walk on her. A very athletic type of filly. He thought there was a lot of depth to her pedigree which suggested she was a worthwhile prospect not only as a racehorse but also as a broodmare in the future. Her pedigree is littered with Black Type winners. Sire - Written Tycoon: champion first season sire in Australia 2010/11 champion 2 year old sire in Australia 2015/16 sire of 3 individual G1 winners Capitalist (winner of 2016 Magic Millions Classic & Golden Slipper), Music Magnate & Luna Rossa Dam - Verkko (Flying Spur): dam is a half-sister Almighty Girl (G3 winner) & Zodiac Ruler (G2 winner) the filly comes from the same family as Laisserfaire (G1, G2 &G3 winner), A Time for Julia (G3 winner), Foreplay, Time Thief & Centennial Park (G2 & G3 winner) The filly is a September foal which he thinks may help him come a little bit early with her and she does look like the type of filly that will race as a 2-year-old and then go on to the 3-year-old races. She will be aimed towards the 2018 Magic Millions 2-year-old Classic in January. Chris is a great believer in time and patience to give our yearlings time to grow and mature and we do not push our yearlings but let them guide us as to how they are handling their education and workload. Her full brother, KARISTO, has now had 4 starts in New Zealand. His first start was back in June, where he ran a creditable second, and then he raced a strong second both first-up and second-up from a spell. At his most recent start on 23 October he won by 4 lengths at Te Rapa. Attached is the link to a video of that race, http://www.nzracing.co.nz/raceinfo/46393/4/race-detail.aspx (click on VIDEO for the replay)
Trained by Murray Baker, there is a high opinion of him and they think he goes very well. There is a bit of hype around him so it should be very interesting to see how he continues on. The filly has been to the breakers and then spent two weeks in the stables at Eagle Farm going through her education. She was sent for a spell around the beginning of August and has recently come back into the stables, after time spent at Bahram pre-training centre to begin work for her next preparation. Deneuve (Wicked Style x Zerotami Filly) Deneuve is an attractive and strong chestnut filly that really fits the mould. She is athletic, elegant, moves well and Chris believes she was a very good buy. The filly has completed her first preparation in the stables where she had 2 x 400m educational jump-outs during this time. She is currently having a well-deserved break but is due, within the next week or two, to head to Bahram Pre-Training Centre to begin work for her next preparation. The filly is paid up for the Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme (QTIS) and is eligible for nomination to the Magic Millions Race Series, INDUSTRY NEWS Eagle Farm update Work on the Eagle Farm track remediation project is underway with the primary contractor starting the process of removing the track s top layer. As detailed in a Racing Queensland update, FKG moved onto the site during the last week of October and would begin working with heavy machinery, on the track, commencing early November. The Eagle Farm track remediation project control group (PCG), including officers from RQ, BRC and independent turf and profile experts are collaborating on all aspects of the remediation project. The surface will be subjected to rigorous testing before the all-clear is given for a return to racing.
Racing Queensland announces $1 million QTIS race day Racing Queensland (RQ) has outlined a two-year strategy to promote the QTIS March race day, which will see QTIS eligible horses race for more than $1 million in bonuses and stakes from March, 2019. It follows RQ s earlier announcement of the new $250k QTIS 2YO Jewel and the introduction of the $125k QTIS 3YO Jewel, scheduled exclusively for QTIS eligible horses in March 2018. From March 2019, the 3YO Jewel will rise to $165k whilst QTIS eligible horses will race for a QTIS Double Stakes Bonus. The QTIS Double Stakes Bonuses will be available for any QTIS eligible winner on any of the seven supporting races on the card. It means if the winner of the $100k Goldmarket Handicap is QTIS eligible, the winning purse of $64,000 will double to $128,000. The 2018 QTIS Jewel Series will also deliver regional QTIS Double Stakes Bonuses, with the winners of qualifiers held in Cairns (3YO), Townsville (2YO), Mackay (3YO), Rockhampton (2YO) and Toowoomba (2YO) receiving ballot-free entry into the rich Jewel events. Chief Executive Officer Dr Eliot Forbes said the introduction of the race day reaffirmed RQ s commitment to the promotion of the Queensland breeding industry through the innovation of programming. Racing Queensland realises the importance of the breeding industry in our mission to grow racing for future generations, Dr Forbes said. The 2018 QTIS Jewels and subsequent $1 million race day starting in 2019 aims to provide further incentives to breed in Queensland, while providing increased returns to owners, and encouraging further growth at the 2018 March QTIS Magic Millions Yearling Sales. Magic Millions managing director, Vin Cox, said the introduction of the $1 million race day was a tremendous boost for Queensland participants. Racing Queensland should really be congratulated, he said. It s a wonderful opportunity to significantly reward owners and trainers involved with racing a QTIS horse and I m sure that plenty of them will be targeting a race at the Coast on the day. This whole race day will really complement the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Race we hold in January, and there is no question it is a terrific shot in the arm for our March QTIS Yearling Sale, as it gives a real focus to both the weekend and the sale days to follow. It s an exciting innovation and I m looking forward to it having a really positive effect in the years to come. Queensland Thoroughbred Breeders Association president, Basil Nolan said: This is exactly the kind of programming and thinking outside the box that can really make a difference. In my opinion, QTIS is already the best state based incentive scheme in the country and this type of day only further adds to it. To be able to race an older horse and run for such prizemoney is fantastic and will really reward owners and trainers of QTIS horses.
QTIS March 2018 Raceday/Bonus Series $250K QTIS 2yo Jewel $125K QTIS 3yo Jewel Regional Jewel Series Races Toowoomba, Cairns, Mackay, Townsville and Rockhampton Boosted Prizemoney for QTIS eligible horses through QTIS Double Stakes Bonuses Winners ballot exempt, guaranteeing entry into Jewel races QTIS March 2019 Raceday/Bonus Series $250K QTIS 2yo Jewel $165K QTIS 3yo Jewel QTIS Double Stakes Bonuses for all QTIS eligible winners across the supporting program Regional Jewel Series Races Toowoomba, Cairns, Mackay, Townsville and Rockhampton Boosted Prizemoney for QTIS eligible horses through QTIS Double Stakes Bonuses Winners ballot exempt, guaranteeing entry into Jewel races STABLES VISITS TO EAGLE FARM When your horse is in training we welcome you to come and visit your horse and our stables. You can do this by contacting admin@munceracing.com.au to arrange a mutually agreeable time. Cathy or Chris, or one of our stable team will be happy to show you your horse and give you a tour of our new Eagle Farm stables. Also, don t forget you are more than welcome to attend and watch any of the trials your horse runs in and talk with Chris after the trial.
DODGE THE PRESS LIFE AFTER RACING Adrenaline Thoroughbred s horse, Dodge the Press, has recently been retired from racing and has begun his new life as an OTTB (off track thoroughbred). After 22 starts which resulted in 2 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds, the decision was made to retire the 5-year-old gelding. The best part was that he went out a winner. Back on the 19 th of August Dodge the Press and jockey Bridget Grylls ran second at Kilcoy over 1500m beaten by 2 lengths after getting caught behind traffic in the straight. On the 14 th of September Bridget and Dodge went back out to Kilcoy, again over the 1500m, and this time they passed the judge in first position. It was a great win for Dodge. A few days after his win Dodge was picked up from the stables and transported to Ruby s Ex-Racehorse Retraining based at the Gold Coast. There he will be given a few months off to do nothing except eat, run around a paddock and enjoy life as a horse. The aim is to get him to fill out and get nice and fat. Once he is ready he will commence pre-training. Dodge will begin with 2 weeks of light lunging work teaching him to be round and soft on the bridle and learn to use his hind end. He will then be ridden, doing lots of flatwork and Ruby will also see how he goes over a few jumps etc. Dodge will also go to a few outings and horse events/shows. Ruby will do a bit of everything with him to make Dodge a very well all-round horse so he can be rehomed later. He was such a lovey horse around the stables and he is missed. We wish Dodge the Press all the best for his new life.