munnings: new ky stallions for 2011

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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.

It is virtually certain he will sire some offspring much like himself, and they will doubtless be in great demand as prospects for early maturity and speed.

 

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longfellow: bard of midway

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longfellow, midway ky, physical description, racing history

An article in the Thoroughbred Record of 1904 details the pedigree and racing record of the 19th century racing legend Longfellow as follows.

Longfellow was a brown horse, foaled 1867, bred by John Harper and owned by FB Harper, near Midway, Ky, sired by imp Leamington (son of Faugh-a-Ballagh), dam Nantura (dam of Extra, Fanny Holton, etc), by Brawner’s Eclipse (son of American Eclipse), out of Quiz (sister to Queen Mary), by Bertrand (son of Sir Archy).

Longfellow won 14 of 16 starts, losing only his debut, the Phoenix Stakes at Lexington raced at mile heats in 1870, and his last start, the Cup at Saratoga in 1872, when Longfellow pulled up lame.

Physically, Longfellow was a big, lean, highly specialized horse who could gallop very long distances at a high pace. Further details of his physique:

Longfellow stood nearly 17 hands high, with white stripe down his face, with left hind foot white above the ankle, and a little white on the coronet of the right hind foot. He had a neat ear, broad forehead, with Roman nose, long, well-shaped neck, running into strong, well-shaped shoulders, great depth of girth, rather light flank, good strong hips, with good length of whirlbone and stifle, and thence to the hock; good legs and feet.

He proved a good sire, though getting nothing the equal of himself.