Mundi Gully takes on Class 2

INTEREST will abound at another glamorous and sizeable TAB race meeting at Callaghan Park in Rockhampton today.

While Rockhampton top senior sprinter King Hunter reappears when attempting to break the $200,000 prizemoney barrier in the Open (970m), most intrigue will centre on a junior.

In a break from convention, the Julie Green-trained top juvenile Mundi Gully will make his reappearance against older company in the Class 2 (970m).

Mundi Gully is Rockhampton’s star two-year-old after wins in the Breeders Plate at Yeppoon and the Mackay Magic Millions.

He cemented his reputation when a solid seventh, beaten just 6.1 lengths by star filly Military Rose in the $2 million Magic Millions (1200m) on the Gold Coast on January 9.

Julie Green entered him for the 2YO Handicap (1100m) as well today but the weight factor of 60.5kg in that race opposed to the 56kg in the Class 2 came into play.

Stable spokesperson Graeme Green said the big weight and the extra distance were telling factors against Mundi Gully running against his own age.

“He is not really ready for 1100 metres just yet. We went the way of the Class 2 race mainly because of the shorter trip of 970 metres. We thought 60.5kg first-up over 1100m was too much and we didn’t want to bust him,” Green said.

He said Mundi Gully would be very competitive today.

“He will need the run fitness-wise as he is a big gross horse. He is a very lazy track worker but I expect him to be there when the whips are cracking,” Green said.

After todayMundi Gully will progress to the Capricornia Training Company Classic (1200m) on March 25 before heading off to Eagle Farm for a 2YO Handicap (1200m) there on April 5.

Meanwhile, in a change of plans, the Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) will call for a special general meeting of members much earlier, on March 29, to vote on a joint ownership proposal with Queensland Racing Limited on Callaghan Park racecourse.

However, in another major change, the final decision on the proposal will now not rest with the members as had been previously stated, but with the RJC committee.

“I don’t know if that is a change but the committee will make the final decision after naturally giving strong consideration to the outcome of the members’ vote,” the RJC’s Denis Cox said yesterday.

RJC chairman Justin Doyle said he would vote in line with the members’ wishes.