Ollie's Munhamek Miracle

This may be a ratings-based piece but it's impossible not to talk about what happened on Saturday at Ascot. It was the stuff of fairy tales, Damien Oliver, considered by many (and the stats back it up) to be the best jockey in Australian history, hadn't ridden a winner in his farewell tour of Ascot.

A good book on his last day and Oliver comes out and rides the last three winners on the card, the last three rides of his career booted home and his final in the 'Damien Oliver' Gold Rush producing one of the most memorable moments in Australian racing history.

It's one of those moments that was seemingly pre-written, perfectly scripted, and that doesn't happen often. In fact, the other moment in racing history that springs to mind is also courtesy of Oliver, but in far more tragic circumstances as Media Puzzle gave Oliver his second Melbourne Cup just days after his brother Jason passed away from a race fall just days before the race.

The ride itself on Munhamek was pretty miraculous itself. Ollie rode for luck and got it, and had he not ridden Munhamek as he did, I've no doubt he doesn't win because the horse has run better than he ever has on Saturday.

He came into the race rated 111, ironically achieved in The Damien Oliver at Flemington first up, just to add to the story, and funnily enough the ride by Blake Shinn on that occasion was nearly identical but for one gap.

Both times Munhamek drew very wide and ended up back in the field on the fence, but where Shinn had no luck finding a gap, Ollie did, bursting through to deny Ripcord and post a new peak rating of 114.

There isn't much more to say about the race in terms of looking ahead, and with a relatively quiet week in racing pre-Christmas, it's nice to just just get swept up in the theatre of the fairy tale.

Equal Two-Year Olds

We saw another couple of smart two-year-old winners in Sydney and Melbourne with Anode and Traffic Warden both running to 102 on Saturday.

Traffic Warden had run to 99+ on debut behind Storm Boy, who is rated 107 off his one start and comfortably the highest rated horse heading to the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and should (in my opinion) be the outright favourite for the race.

Anode beat the short-priced Amazing Eagle who was the trial star heading in. He's run on okay for second but was beaten 3.5 lengths and rated 90.

Also rated 102 is Highness who won the Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic on Wednesday, beating the (now) 99 rated Spywire, who ran to 95 on debut. Tying in some of the others in the market, Bodyguard who won well at Flemington on debut is also rated 99, all 1-2 lengths off Storm Boy, who is likely to run in the Group 3 B J McLahlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

FP	Silk	Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam	Jockey Trainer	SP WT
1st		4. MUNHAMEK (GB) 7yo G DARK ANGEL (IRE) - CADENZA (FR)	DAMIEN OLIVER NICK RYAN	$7 59kg
		C A Hutchison, J S L Tan & Mrs A H Fownes
	Sales Information  | Tattersalls | 2019 July Sale (273) | Averham Park Stables (I. Furtado) | WITHDRAWN 2019 July Sale (273)   Averham Park Stables (I. Furtado)  Withdrawn
2nd		16. RIPCORD (AUS) 3yo G WRITTEN BY (AUS) - SINGLE IN LONDON (AUS)	CLINT JOHNSTON-PORTER LUKE FERNIE	$6 54kg
		K Doak, R McAlister, Miss M Manfredini, L K Fernie, B Fleay, P Fleay & G J Fleay
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2021 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale (175) | Barador Stud, Denman, Nsw & Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Euroa, Vic (As Agent) | Luke Fernie | AUD $ 40,000 2021 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale (175)   Barador Stud, Denman, Nsw & Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Euroa, Vic (As Agent)  Luke Fernie AUD $ 40,000
3rd		7. COMFORT ME (AUS) 7yo G PLAYING GOD (AUS) - SOUTHERN COMFORT (AUS)	SHAUN MCGRUDDY RHYS RADFORD	$7 59kg
		Dr F J Edwards & Mrs M E Edwards
4th		3. BUSTLER (AUS) 4yo G PLAYING GOD (AUS) - COSMAH DOMINATION (AUS)	STEVEN PARNHAM NEVILLE PARNHAM	$10 59kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2021 Perth Yearling Sale (121) | Ruby Racing & Breeding, Kojarena, Wa | Ridgeport Holdings | AUD $ 130,000 2021 Perth Yearling Sale (121)   Ruby Racing & Breeding, Kojarena, Wa  Ridgeport Holdings AUD $ 130,000  | Magic Millions | 2020 Mungrup Stud Complete Dispersal Online Sale (27) | Mungrup Stud Complete Dispersal Online Sale (Unreserved), Narrikup, Wa | Ruby Racing & Breeding | AUD $ 32,500 2020 Mungrup Stud Complete Dispersal Online Sale (27)   Mungrup Stud Complete Dispersal Online Sale (Unreserved), Narrikup, Wa  Ruby Racing & Breeding AUD $ 32,500
5th		5. RED CAN MAN (AUS) 7yo G GINGERBREAD MAN (AUS) - BROCKY'S ACE (AUS)	PAUL HARVEY STEPHEN WOLFE	$21 59kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2018 Perth Yearling Sale (34) | Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud Einoncliff Park And Westbury Park) Wa | Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (Fbaa) | AUD $ 50,000 2018 Perth Yearling Sale (34)   Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud Einoncliff Park And Westbury Park) Wa  Commercial Bloodstock Services P/L (Fbaa) AUD $ 50,000
6th		2. VALOUR ROAD (AUS) 8yo G FROST GIANT (USA) - MELBA AVENUE (AUS)	CHRIS PARNHAM SIMON A MILLER	$7.5 59kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2017 Perth Yearling Sale (338) | Yarradale Stud Gidgegannup Wa | Aquanita Racing P/L | AUD $ 60,000 2017 Perth Yearling Sale (338)   Yarradale Stud Gidgegannup Wa  Aquanita Racing P/L AUD $ 60,000
7th		11. RESORTMAN (AUS) 7yo G HELMET (AUS) - STRAVEEN (NZ)	BRAD RAWILLER M L LANE	$21 59kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2017 Great Southern Sale (93) | Supreme Thoroughbreds, Romsey | M Lane & P Capararo | AUD $ 15,000 2017 Great Southern Sale (93)   Supreme Thoroughbreds, Romsey  M Lane & P Capararo AUD $ 15,000
8th		12. LAVERROD (AUS) 7yo G TORONADO (IRE) - DEMASHEEN (AUS)	CRAIG WILLIAMS S & J CASEY	$26 59kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2018 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (93) | Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | Yenrise Pty Ltd | AUD $ 270,000 2018 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (93)   Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains  Yenrise Pty Ltd AUD $ 270,000  | Magic Millions | 2017 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale (288) | Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm Corinella Vic (As Agent) | James Bester Bloodstock | AUD $ 140,000 2017 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale (288)   Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm Corinella Vic (As Agent)  James Bester Bloodstock AUD $ 140,000
9th		1. DOM TO SHOOT (AUS) 6yo G SHOOTING TO WIN (AUS) - PRINCESS ROUGE (NZ)	JARRAD NOSKE S & J CASEY	$9 59kg
10th		13. MY BELLA MAE (AUS) 4yo M DEEP FIELD (AUS) - MAE WEST (NZ)	PATRICK CARBERY D M LUCIANI	$61 57kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2021 Perth Yearling Sale (19) | Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, Wa (As Agent) | Psd. AUD $ 70,000 Res. AUD $ 80,000 2021 Perth Yearling Sale (19)   Alwyn Park Stud, Serpentine, Wa (As Agent)  Psd. AUD $ 70,000 Res. AUD $ 80,000  | Inglis | 2021 Classic Yearling Sale (663) | Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Scone | WITHDRAWN 2021 Classic Yearling Sale (663)   Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Scone  Withdrawn AUD $
11th		10. AYRTON (NZ) 6yo G IFFRAAJ (GB) - ODESSA (NZ)	DAMIAN LANE MICK PRICE & MICHAEL KENT JNR	$8.5 59kg
	Sales Information  | NZB | 2019 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs (102) | Leanach Lodge Ltd | WITHDRAWN 2019 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs (102)   Leanach Lodge Ltd  Withdrawn NZD $  | NZB | 2019 Karaka National Yearling Sale - Book 2 (834) | Leanach Lodge Ltd | Psd. NZD $ Res. NZD $ 40,000 2019 Karaka National Yearling Sale - Book 2 (834)   Leanach Lodge Ltd  Psd. NZD $ Res. NZD $ 40,000
12th		15. KARLI'S KARMA (AUS) 6yo M DEEP FIELD (AUS) - SRAVANA (AUS)	MICHAEL POY SUMMER DICKSON	$26 57kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2019 Adelaide Yearling Sale (150) | Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Eddington, Vic | Brock Lewthwaite | AUD $ 8,000 2019 Adelaide Yearling Sale (150)   Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Eddington, Vic  Brock Lewthwaite AUD $ 8,000  | Magic Millions | 2018 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale (469) | Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, Nsw | Jazcom Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | AUD $ 5,000 2018 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale (469)   Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, Nsw  Jazcom Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd AUD $ 5,000
13th		8. SAVATOXL (AUS) 8yo G KUROSHIO (AUS) - LI'L MISS HAYLEY (NZ)	HOLLY WATSON WILL SAVAGE	$101 59kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2017 Melbourne Vobis Gold Yearling Sale (234) | Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, Eddington | Alice Springs Turf Club Inc. | AUD $ 8,000 2017 Melbourne Vobis Gold Yearling Sale (234)   Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, Eddington  Alice Springs Turf Club Inc. AUD $ 8,000  | Inglis | 2017 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale (563) | Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, Eddington | Psd. AUD $ 14,000 Res. AUD $ 20,000 2017 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale (563)   Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, Eddington  Psd. AUD $ 14,000 Res. AUD $ 20,000
14th		14. BABY PARIS (AUS) 4yo M PLAYING GOD (AUS) - WAR IN PARIS (AUS)	PETER KNUCKEY C H WEBSTER	$17 57kg
15th		9. HOT ZED (AUS) 6yo G RED HOT CHOICE (AUS) - ZEDFIRE (AUS)	JASON WHITING LOU LUCIANI	$41 59kg
16th		6. MASSIMO (AUS) 7yo G SESSIONS (AUS) - HIGHEST (AUS)	BRAD PARNHAM C & M GANGEMI	$41 59kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2021 JUNE (Late) Online Sale (107) | Gangemi Thoroughbreds | AUD $ 150,000 2021 JUNE (Late) Online Sale (107)   AUD $ 150,000