Welcome to our April 2018 edition of the Munce Racing Newsletter MUNCE RACING OPEN DAY KEEP YOUR MORNING FREE Our Open Day this year is being held this coming Sunday the 6 th May at the Doomben Racecourse Parade Ring. Proceeding will kick off at 9.30am with morning tea provided. The Open Day will be proudly supported by radio station NOVA 106.9 with David Luttsy Lutteral appearing as emcee. All current owners and interested guests will have the opportunity to meet our new yearlings and see the quality of the horses on offer. All yearlings that have been purchased this year will be paraded so if you are looking to join a group or purchase a horse outright, we will have ownership opportunities available to suit everyone. Chris will also provide his valuable expertise in what he looks for in selecting a racehorse for Munce Racing. QUAYDE HEADS SOUTH OF THE BORDER FOR 6 WEEKS Thanks to Chris s relationship with Gai Waterhouse, Quayde has been given the opportunity to ride trackwork for the First Lady of racing for a period of six weeks. This is a tremendous opportunity for the apprentice and he will no doubt benefit greatly from the experience. A quick text message to him revealed that he may have a race ride next week for the stable.
2018 CAPRICORNIA YEARLING SALE 8 TH APRIL IN ROCKHAMPTON This year Chris attended the Capricornia Yearling Sale for the second time and was able to secure a son of Dawn Approach. Chris will aim the yearling towards the 2019 Capricornia Yearling Sales Classic 2Yo Plate, worth $100,000 in prizemoney. Lot 91 - Dawn Approach x Savings (chestnut colt) Chris said, He is a lovely big, strong, athletic colt with a very athletic walk on him with a good head on his shoulder. His x-rays were all clean and I felt he was easily the best colt at the sale. His sire, Dawn Approach, was an unbeaten multiple Gr.1 winner as a 2-year-old and was later crowned European 2-year-old Champion. At 3 years of age he won the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket by 5 lengths and the G1 St James s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. In both instances he beat such horses like Toronado, Glory Awaits and George Vancouver. His wins were over distances from 1200m to 1600m. His best progeny to date include 2-year-olds Gongs and Condemned. Both are owned and raced by Godolphin and are part of his first southern hemisphere crop. His dam, Savings, was unraced and is the half-sister to Hot Jules (G1 winner) and Yuro (G3 winner). Our colt is her ninth foal and she is the dam of six foals to race including three winners. Her sire, Iglesia, was Queensland s Champion First Season Sire in 2004/5 and produced Written Tycoon (Champion First Season Sire in 2010/11).
HORSES AVAILABLE Kuroshio x Superb Melody (brown/black colt) Chris said, he is a magnificent, beautiful colt with a terrific walk and very athletic. I believe he is one of the best colts at the sale. This colt is by the blistering winner Kuroshio (Exceed and Excel), who was a Listed winner on debut. He then went on to win the G3 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude at 2 years of age defeating eventual Champion Sprinter and Horse of the Year Dissident. At 3 years of age he won the G2 McEwan Stakes. His dam, Superb Melody is a city winning mare and comes from a strong Group producing winning family. Her sire is the multiple G1 winner Unbridled s Song. Even though he passed away in 2013 he earned a posthumous title as the American champion sire of 2017 based largely on the achievements of his son Arrogate. The colt is paid up for the Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme (QTIS) and is eligible for the Magic Millions Race Series. He has just completed his time at the breakers and is currently in the stables going through some education. He will remain in the stables until the Open Day. There is still ownership available in the colt so if you are interested please contact us either via our webpage http://munceracing.com.au or email us at admin@munceracing.com.au
Show A Heart x Art Gallery (bay colt) Chris said that his presence grabbed his attention when he got in the sale ring and he really just sold himself. He is a stand out. His sire, Show A Heart, was a Group 1 winner at the age of 2, 3 and 4 years, taking out the Caufield Guineas, VATC Toorak Handicap, the T J Smith and QTC Stradbroke Handicap. His 2002 Stradbroke win was one of the most thrilling on record when he got up in the final few bounds to beat his arch rival Falvelon. Chris and Cathy know this family well as Cathy was an owner of his sire Brave Warrior and Chris was his jockey, steering him to 6 of his 8 wins, including three Group 2 wins. As a stallion he has gone on to produce Group 1 winning son Toorak Toff who won the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2-year-old Classic as well as the G1 Rupert Clarke and the G1 Golden Rose. Other Group 1 progeny include Heart of Dreams and Woorim. At 20 years of age Show a Heart remains at Glenlogan Park but is now retired so there will now be limited chances to own a colt or filly by this stallion. Our colt is his dam s fifth foal. Her fourth foal is a 2-year- old with her previous three foals all winners. Glendara, a full brother to our colt, won the Listed Tattersall s Mile Handicap on 3 March 2018 and then ran second in the time-honoured Gold Coast Stakes two weeks later. Chris currently trains two sons of Show A Heart. The well performed 3-year-old Johnny Whitesox and the up and coming Racecourse Road who broke his maiden at his first start. Chris is very impressed with both and says that they have plenty of potential to excel. Whittington x Flexibility (brown filly) Cathy Munce said I liked her from the word go and I was not going to leave the sales without her. She is an elegant and stylish filly with the looks and walk to match. Nothing seemed to faze her at the sales and she came across as a very sensible filly. Perfect for a women s only syndicate. Both her x-rays and scope came back all clear.
Her sire, Whittington, exploded onto the scene in October 2012 as a 2-year-old when he won the timehonoured Breeders Plate in dominant fashion. He came back as a 3-year-old winning the Magic Millions Sprint defeating the older horses in blistering fashion, stopping the clock at 1:01.77 for the 1100m smashing the track record. After moving stables from Sydney to Brisbane he went on to take out the Listed Lightning Handicap. The striking son of Tale of the Cat is an impeccable type and possesses the strength and speed that has been the precedent for sire success in Queensland. This is his first crop of yearlings. Her dam Flexibility is by Viscount (Quest for Fame) and is from the same family as Group 3 winner Youth, Backgammon, Over (Group 1 winner of the Doncaster) and Group 3 winning mare Raiment who is owned and race by Godolphin. She is paid up for the Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme (QTIS) and she is eligible for nomination to the Magic Millions Race Series. The filly is currently at the breakers going through her education. Time for War x Emerald Downs (bay colt) Chris said, "he is a lovely colt with a muscular physique that grabbed my attention as soon as I saw him". He also said the colt reminds him a lot of his sire. His sire, Time for War (Snitzel), won the G2 Pago Pago in 2014. He finished fourth in the G1 Sires Produce two weeks later, and a month after that bested eventual multiple Group 1 winning sprinter Brazen Beau in the G2 BRC Sires Produce. He comes from the same family as Group 1 winners Lucky Owners and Mosheen. Unfortunately, Time for War passed away from a colic attack in 2016 after only standing at stud for 2 seasons so there will be a very limited number of his progeny. His dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Turffontein, Lady Gracious and Graces Spirit and comes from the same family as Affable and Vergara. As an added bonus Kitchwin Hills (where Time for War used to stand and who bred the yearling) have retained some ownership in him which shows they must really like him.
After completing his time at the breakers, the colt came into the stables for a week, for some education, and has only recently headed back out to Oakwood Farm for a spell. There is still ownership available in the colt so if you are interested please contact us either via our webpage http://munceracing.com.au or email us at admin@munceracing.com.au Shooting to Win x Coco Kerringle (bay filly) She is 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). The filly has been broken in and has recently completed a couple of stints in the stables as part of her ongoing education. During that period, she has been out on the track, through the barriers and went three quarter pace over 600 metres. She currently at Oakwood Farm for a break. Chris is very happy with how she progressed. 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
Smart Missile x Tempting Lady (bay colt) He is a cracking colt and because he is an August foal he has every chance of going early. His x-rays were clean and he scoped clean as well. Chris said he had a lot to do with the family when he was riding at Gai Waterhouse s stable and said they were good, tough gallopers. He is sired by Smart Missile, the current 2017/18 Australian Season 3 Sires leader and his dam is by Northern Meteor the 2012/13 champion first-season sire. On both sides of the family is the Gooree Park American bred mare Explosive by Fappiano (USA). She was imported by Gooree Park owner Eduardo Cojuangco due to her bloodlines. Explosive is found on both sides of the family. She is the dam of Comical Smile who produced our colt s sire Smart Missile and she is the dam of Australian champion Northern Meteor who is the sire of the colt s dam Tempting Lady. His grand dam, Tempest Morn (Thunder Gulch USA), was the winner of 2 Group 1 races - Australasian Oaks and the Australia Stakes, Chris actually rode her when she won her maiden race. He is from the same Group winning family of Good Standing (G2/G3), Tempt Me Not (G3) and Pasikatera (G3). After completing his time at the breakers, the colt came into the stables for a week, for some education, and has only recently headed back out to Oakwood Farm for a spell. There is still ownership available in the colt so if you are interested please contact us either via our webpage http://munceracing.com.au or email us at admin@munceracing.com.au
The Factor x Manaslu (brown filly) Chris said she is a beautiful filly, that really took my eye when I first saw her at the farm while doing my pre-sale inspections. She is an impressive athletic type with a lovely walk. Her sire, The Factor was an outstanding racehorse. A multiple Group 1 winner and record-breaking two-year-old, he was brilliantly fast, so fast that his hall-of-fame trainer, Bob Baffert, described him a freak and the fastest horse that he has ever trained. He is the fastest horse to ever stand in Australia clocking 1:06:98 over the 1200m. Her dam, Manaslu, is by Al Maher whose sire is Danehill. The Factor has much in common with Danehill, both being G1 sprinters and with pedigrees that feature many of the same names. Inbreeding to Danzig (and indeed Danehill) is becoming a common theme in Australia and The Factor appears the right type to complement Danehill-line mares. He has already sired a G1 winning filly in the United States. Noted and Quoted won the G1 Chandelier at Santa Anita after breaking her maiden by 9½ lengths at Del Mar. On the 28 th of March he sired his second Australian winner when Momentum Factor broke his maiden at Warwick Farm for trainer David Payne. She is currently at the breakers going through her education. The filly is paid up for the Magic Millions Race Series, the Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme (QTIS) and the NSW Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme (BOBS). AROUND THE STABLE Our Yearlings The new crop of babies continue along their paths, through their education, to becoming racehorses. From the breakers to the stables, to the paddock they have all handled the workload and pressure extremely well and we look forward to seeing them progress through the coming months.
Older Horses Behind the scenes things have been building up with horses like Ours to Keep having his first start back from a spell. Lucky Jackson has had three starts this month to build up his race fitness as Chris aims him towards the Qld Derby over the mile and a half. First Crush is back in the stables after having a freshen up after his courageous third in the Toowoomba Cup. Chris will now prepare him for such races as the Ipswich and Grafton Cups, including the lead up races. First Crush It was a strong, tough second-up win for Skyscraper when he won at the Beaudesert in early April. He showed his tenacity to fight back when he was slightly headed by Rok n undathestars during the run when he and Clang Again took Skyscraper on. Skyscraper went on to win by a nose over Rok n undathestars with Clang Again in third spot by a short neck. Skyscraper (inside rail)
Our other winner was Kosciuszko Express at Beaudesert on ANZAC Day. Grabbing her maiden win the 3-year old daughter of Snitzel made it a race when she went to the front and continued to maintain her lead while the others dropped back. Master Magic Al threw out a late challenge but he was not able to catch her. Hopefully this win will give Kosciuszko Express the confidence boost she needs to go on and garner more wins. Pony Power and Boomsara are back in work with both having either a trial or a jump-out. Pony Power will be in the Ken Russell Memorial this Saturday as well as the Bill Carter and other 2-year-old fillies races. Boomsara is also heading into the Ken Russell and then Chris will aim him towards the Sires Produce and the JJ Atkins. Pony Power Some of our other 2-year-olds continue to make pathways into their racing careers. Hillsman, Divine Miss Boom and Zoucara have trialled or had a jump-out while Starkers and Moss Cheva kicked off their racing careers in April. Starkers at a barrier trial Moss Cheval at a barrier trial
INDUSTRY NEWS Doomben Maintenance Works Maintenance works are underway at Doomben to ensure it performs to its best while the grow-in continues at Eagle Farm. Track specialists have been mowing and raking the surface while also applying granular and liquid fertilisers. The course proper has also benefitted from aeration involving a vertidrain with solid core tynes. The track has responded well to date and the current weather conditions are supporting the current growth. UBET Sponsorship of Winter Carnival Provides $595,000 Boost to Participants Racing Queensland today welcomed UBET as the major sponsor of the 2018 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival in a move that will provide up to $595,000 in bonuses across all three codes of racing. The significant sponsorship deal showcases Tabcorp s commitment to enhance its sponsorship and promotion of Queensland racing, following its merger with Tatts Group in late 2017. The bonus money across the three codes includes: $350,000 UBET Northern Crowns Series for North Queensland thoroughbreds $125,000 UBET Origin Greyhound Series for Albion Park in July $120,000 UBET Grand Slam for the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake in July Tabcorp s Adam Rytenskild, Managing Director Wagering and Media said the new bonuses came at an important time for both RQ and Tabcorp with the major Queensland carnivals looming and the racing spotlight on the Sunshine State. As a proud partner of Racing Queensland, Tabcorp is committed to supporting the Queensland racing industry in its efforts to attract the best quality thoroughbreds, standardbreds and greyhounds for these three great initiatives, Rytenskild said. UBET sponsors the headline event in each code - the Stradbroke, the Blacks A Fake and the Gold Cup. These new sponsorships provide additional incentives for connections to chase lucrative prize money in Queensland and will enhance interest from punters. Through our partnership with Racing Queensland, Tabcorp will continue to support the industry through funding commitments, sponsorships and wagering initiatives, which help secure a sustainable future for the thousands employed in racing. Racing Queensland acting CEO Simon Stout said the sponsorship and bonuses would help entice an even higher quality of racing across the carnival, with an aim to drive interest and in turn, drive wagering on Queensland product. This generous sponsorship from UBET and Tabcorp will ensure horses aimed at the North Queensland Winter Racing Carnival will race for up to $2.29 million across seven feature race days. Bonuses of $150K (Stayers) and $100K (Sprinters) will be offered to any horse, which can win three of the five nominated UBET Northern Crown races across feature meetings at Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and the FNQ Amateurs. The bonuses will be split between the winning owner (80%) and trainer (20%). The bonus will rise to $200K for stayers, and $150K for sprinters if any of the three wins includes races on FNQ Amateurs day on 8 September 2018, Mr Stout said.
Industry Welcomes $350,000 UBET Northern Crown Series Trainers and officials from across Queensland have welcomed Racing Queensland and UBET s announcement of a new $350,000 series to boost the 2018 North Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. The UBET Northern Crowns Series will offer rich bonuses for sprinters and stayers that can win any three of the five nominated races between July and September, across meetings at Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and FNQ Amateurs. Cairns Jockey Club General Manager John Cameron said the initiative was an ideal way to boost winter racing in the state s north. This is a good spend of money and will help our club continue to grow our two-day Carnival during August. The bonuses should help attract some quality horses from the South East and I look forward to seeing how the series grows in the years to come, he said. Tabcorp s Adam Rytenskild, Managing Director Wagering and Media said the new bonuses came at an important time for both RQ and Tabcorp with the major Queensland carnivals looming and the racing spotlight on the Sunshine State. As a proud partner of Racing Queensland, Tabcorp is committed to supporting the Queensland racing industry in its efforts to attract the best quality thoroughbreds, standardbreds and greyhounds for these three great initiatives, Rytenskild said. UBET sponsors the headline event in each code - the Stradbroke, the Blacks A Fake and the Gold Cup. These new sponsorships provide additional incentives for connections to chase lucrative prize money in Queensland and will enhance interest from punters. Racing Queensland will continue to ramp up its promotion of the new series via its multiple media platforms. Sam Hyland will return with Puntersland s Cut To The Chase program, while UBET and Sky Racing will offer enhanced content to increase punter awareness of the North Queensland racing industry. This will also run in line with Racing Queensland s We re Racing Everywhere campaign, which aims to encourage track attendance at any of Queensland s 132 racing clubs.
THE BATTLE OF BEERSHEBA - 1917 The Battle of Beersheba was fought on 31 October 1917, when the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) attacked and captured the Yildirim Army Group garrison at Beersheba, beginning the Southern Palestine Offensive of the Sinai and Palestine campaign of World War I. Infantry from the 60th (London) and the 74th (Yeomanry) Divisions of the XX Corps from the southwest conducted limited attacks in the morning, then the Anzac Mounted Division (Desert Mounted Corps) launched a series of attacks against the strong defences which dominated the eastern side of Beersheba, resulting in their capture during the late afternoon. Shortly afterwards, the Australian Mounted Division's 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments (4th Light Horse Brigade) conducted a mounted infantry charge with bayonets in their hands, their only weapon for mounted attack, as their rifles were slung across their backs. Part of the two regiments dismounted to attack entrenchments on Tel es Saba defending Beersheba while the remainder of the light horsemen continued their charge into the town, capturing the place and part of the garrison as it was withdrawing. The Battle in Brief The charge of the 4th Australian Light Horse at Beersheba late in the afternoon of 31 October 1917, is remembered as the last great cavalry charge. The assault on Beersheba began at dawn with the infantry divisions of the British XX Corps attacking from the south and south-west. Despite artillery and air support, neither the infantry attacks from the south, or the Anzac Mounted Division s attack from the east had succeeded in capturing Beersheba by mid-afternoon. With time running out for the Australians to capture Beersheba and its wells before dark, Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel, the Australian commander of the Desert Mounted Corps, ordered Brigadier General William Grant, commanding the 4th Light Horse Brigade, to make a mounted attack directly towards the town. Chauvel knew, from aerial photographs, that the Turkish trenches in front of the town were not protected by barbed wire. However, German bombing had forced the 4th Brigade into a scattered formation and it was not until 4.50 pm that they were in position. The Brigade assembled behind rising ground 6 kilometres southeast of Beersheba with the 4th Light Horse Regiment on the right, the 12th Light Horse Regiment on the left and the 11th Light Horse Regiment in reserve. The Australian Light Horse was to be used purely as cavalry for the first time. Although they were not equipped with cavalry sabres, the Turks who faced the long bayonets held by the Australians did not consider there was much difference between a charge by cavalry and a charge by mounted infantry. The Light Horse moved off at the trot, and almost at once quickened to a gallop. As they came over the top of the ridge and looked down the long, gentle open slope to Beersheba, they were seen by the Turkish gunners, who opened fire with shrapnel. But the pace was too fast for the gunners. After three kilometres Turkish machine-guns opened fire from the flank, but they were detected and silenced by British artillery. The rifle fire from the Turkish trenches was wild and high as the Light Horse approached. The front trench and the main trench were jumped and some men dismounted and then attacked the Turks with rifle and bayonet from the rear. Some galloped ahead to seize the rear trenches, while other squadrons galloped straight into Beersheba.
Nearly all the wells of Beersheba were intact and further water was available from a storm that had filled the pools. The 4th and 12th Light Horse casualties were thirty-one killed and thirty-six wounded; they captured over 700 men. The capture of Beersheba meant that the Gaza-Beersheba line was turned. Gaza fell a week later and on 9 December 1917, the British troops entered Jerusalem. The Horses and the Soldiers The success in the Sinai was largely due to the combination of courageous men and their sturdy horses. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigades, together with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, served in the Middle Eastern campaign. The Australians were called Light Horsemen, while the New Zealanders were commonly known as the mounteds. The soldiers of both nations were armed and equipped in a similar way. The Australian Light Horse was formed during the time of the Boer War as a mounted infantry reserve army of volunteers. At the time of the outbreak of World War 1, there were 23 regiments around the nation consisting of about 9,000 men. Many of these then enlisted into the army. Most were from the countryside where horses were the main mode of transport and the men were familiar with horses and shooting. Unlike cavalry, that were trained to fight from horseback and equipped with long swords, the Light Horse men were trained to dismount and go into combat on foot equipped with shorter bayonets, a rifle and a bandolier carrying 90 rounds of ammunition. The normal pattern for the Light Horse was to ride in sections of four near to the battle front, where one man would look after all the horses, staying close enough to escape or advance as needed, while the other three went into action. The horse carried their supplies: a haversack which contained their food, eating utensils, a change of underpants, soap, a pocket knife, and bandages. They also had a one litre water container, a ground sheet and blanket, extra ammunition and a hat. In addition, there were the essentials for the horse, such as water bucket, nose bag and feed, heel rope, hobble chains, neck rope, horseshoes and nails. Add to that the saddle, stirrups and bridle and the total load could be 130-150 kg. Then there was the rider in his full uniform, including boots. In the Sinai, they had to carry this in 50 degree plus temperatures by day and cold nights, through sand, and often at a gallop. Furthermore, they sometimes had to endure 60-70 hours without water and had annoying flies, ticks, fleas and scorpions to contend with.
Twelve thousand horses produce an estimated 113,400 kg of manure per day attracting millions of flies. This is not to mention the Camel Corps and the mules that were also used. Walers carried up to 150 kg of luggage plus the rider in 50degree temperatures over sand, sometimes for three days without water. Due to quarantine restrictions, horses shipped from Australia during the war couldn t be returned. Of the 130000 horses, only 1, a horse called Sandy, returned. LEST WE FORGET