Tags
gone west, juvenile sales, mass and speed, munnings, physical description, size in the thoroughbred, speightstown, sprinting horses
Munnings (2006 ch by Speightstown x La Comete, by Holy Bull)
Ashford $12,500
An athlete whose physical attractions made him a standout sales horse, Munnings turned into a prominent sprinter at 3 and 4. Bred in Kentucky by Dan Tayloe and Glencrest Farm, Munnings was a striking young horse, which he combined with an impressive work at Calder to sell for $1.7 million at Fasig-Tipton’s February sale of 2yos in training in 2008.
Later that year, he made waves in the juvenile division with a second in the Champagne, a third in the Hopeful. The following season, Munnings elevated himself to a lead role among the sprinters of his age and remained there to the midpoint of his 4yo season. In addition to his sprint form, the colt actually showed ability at a mile earlier in his career, before his massive frame had filled in.
In that regard, Munnings is different than his noted sire, the Gone West stallion Speightstown, whose rise to prominence was the work of years following his sale for $2 million as a yearling. Speightstown did not win a stakes until he was 6, when he won five of them and was named champion sprinter.
Raced by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier, Munnings was considered a contender for such a championship at times during his career.
Thrice a winner at the G2 level (Tom Fool, Woody Stephens, and Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship), Munnings was second in a G1 (Champagne) and third in five more. So he had class. He had speed. He is visually appealing.
Possessing the body type of a Hereford bull, Munnings is all muscle and masculinity. He is quite thick around the girth and neck, very broad across the loins, and widely forked behind. He stands 16 hands and a half-inch or thereabouts and tips the scales at 1,400 pounds.
bloodstock in the bluegrass 
Looks like his Mom
Yes, I saw La Comete sell (was it in the Wimborne dispersal?) and thought she was a star at the time.
What is she carrying for 2011?
Frank, John bought La Comete at the dispersal and sold her at the 2008 FT Nov sale carrying a full sister to Munnings. I believe she’s owned by a client of a mutual friend of ours.
When I saw Munnings at Ashford last month I thought the same thing as John, that he looks very much like La Comete.