GRAPES & GALLOPS - $90,000 MUNGRUP STUD SPRINT
The 2012 Mount Barker Grapes & Gallops, including the $90,000 Mungrup Stud Sprint is being hailed a huge success by the hardworking committees of the Mount Barker Wine Producers Association and the Mount Barker Turf Club.
The fifth running of the Grapes & Gallops event saw a mixture of weather being experienced, with the hot, humid afternoon being interrupted by a short thunderstorm which held up racing for fifteen minutes when lightning and thunder were close by. It didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the day for the crowd which exceeded 2000 people. Family groups were very evident and the ladies fashions were exceptional. The behaviour of the very happy crowd was very pleasing.
The nine wine producers did a brisk business at their stalls, as did the gourmet food vendors. Almost 140 patrons and sponsors of the event were very appreciative of the outstanding three course luncheon served by local caterers Gourmet Grub.
The main sponsors of the day, Gray and Jan Williamson of Mungrup Stud, Narrikup, the local Mount Barker Co-op, and Events Corp are to be congratulated on their involvement in this unique festival of top class horse racing and premium Mount Barker wines. It is a very significant sporting and social event for Mount Barker and the great southern region with very many visitors from the metropolitan area and other areas as far away as Broome.
The Committee of the Mount Barker Turf Club were thrilled to have achieved a milestone in WA TAB turnover when it topped $1,025,000. The race meeting was also telecast through to Singapore for the first time.
The feature of the nine event card, the $90,000 Mungrup Stud Sprint, saw the closest finish in the 28 year history of the race. Just a pixel (officially a nose) separated the winner Reimbursement from the well travelled Liquidation. Training partners Ross and Clint Price travelled Reimbursement from Bunbury. Ross Price had his second win in the event having trained Legerman to win the race in 1995. The winning jockey was Perth Cup winning rider, Kyra Yuill. This young girl is sweeping all before her, and demonstrated her skill in the saddle by scoring a treble on the day. Top weight with 60kg, Westriver Kevydonn ran a very creditable third placing.
Albany trainer, Steve Wolfe with a team of 14 runners for the day, was firing early with Cargo Cruiser winning the Ryde Building Company Maiden and Key Position taking out the West Cape Howe Wines Maiden. The winners were both partnered by Shaun McGruddy.
The Mount Barker Wine Producers Assn Handicap was won by the Bunbury trained Gallipoli Prince. Kylie Dowling of Popanyinning was rewarded with Ebony Blues winning the Denmark Liquor Store Handicap. Both of the winners were ridden by apprentice Kyra Yuill.
“Local” trainers took out the next three races on the programme with Albany trainer Bruce Thomas winning again at Mount Barker with Alabamaramer and jockey Leanne Howlett, in the CarterWilliss Handicap. Tenterden trainer, Paul Parsons had a well deserved win with Book Club ridden by Peter Black, in the Boyacup Angus Stud Handicap. City based jockey, Daniel Staeck riding for Albany trainer Denis McAuliffe won the Magic Millions Sales Handicap, with the final event taken out in the easiest win of the day with a margin of 4 lengths by Ascot trained, Boy Mambo.
The Goundrey Wines Handicap winner was ridden by in form Bunbury jockey Glen Smith.
The Committees of the Mount Barker Wine Producers Association and the Mount Barker Turf Club wish to thank both the Grapes & Gallops sponsors and the race sponsors for their financial support. They look forward to working with the sponsors to bring the sixth Mount Barker Grapes & Gallops event in January 2013.
MUNGRUP STUD SPRINT REPLAY 2010
This video was made available courtesy of Perth Racing .
MUNGRUP SPRINT WINNERS
Spitfire Ace WINS MUNGRUP SPRINT 2010
YEAR HORSE JOCKEY TRAINER TIME
2012 Reimbursement K. Yuill R&C Price 1.17.37
2011 Xaaravid J. Noske G. Daly 1.16.80
2010 Spitfire Ace S. O'Donnell D. McAuliffe 1.15.74 (NTR)
2009 Electric General M. Forder N. Parnham 1.16.71
2008 Noble Steed L. Robertson D. Solly 1.16.79
2007 My Leo D. Staeck P.B. Hunter 1.16.55
2006 Metallurgy L. Robertson A.M. McNamara 1.16.54
2005 Impressive Stats P. Harvey D.T. McAuliffe 1.16.29
2004 Chucka Khan Ms A. Sansom C.M. Wolfe 1.16.42
2003 Shane's Boy Ms A. Sansom M.W. Pateman 1.16.83
2002 Jumallique M. Sestich N.D. Parnham 1.16.40
2001 Ringroad J. Lemon J.E. Askevold 1.17.70
2000 Ringroad P. Harvey J.E. Askevold 1.17.04
1999 Northern Blizzard D.R. Miller M.K. Solly 1.17.19
1998 Skip The Country R. Farrell D.J. Panizza 1.16.59
1997 Turn A Glow J. Lemon C.D. Jones 1.16.56
1996 National Pleasure D. Miller N. Lee 1.15.89
1995 Legerman M.Sestich R. Price 1.16.12
1994 Power Quest D. Miller F.Maynard 1.17.73
1993 Star State J. Oliver S.Wolfe 1.16.47
1992 Albany Gold Ms M. Hunter W.Wilkinson 1.17.47
1991 Split Image J. Lemon S.Hunter 1.16.57
1990 On Our Selection N.Rudland S.Wolfe 1.16.39
1989 Doozemburg S.J.Miller S.Keti 1.17.57
1988 Manhattan P. Dyson W.Felt 1.17.75
1987 Aussie Pack A.Smith W.Jeffrey's 1.16.74
1986 Talastar C.Fox K.Fasolo 1.16.43
1985 Red Dragon V. Sigley P. Parsons 1.14.44
