5 SHADES OF GREY RACEHORSES – GUNSYND

Nov 21, 2022

Gunsynd – The Goondiwindi Grey

The greatest showman – racehorse

It would be easy to argue that there has never been a racehorse to love the camera just like this amazing grey. He would stop for photographers & refuse to go out onto the track until the crowd acknowledged him with applause; he would then bow in return and proceed to the track. What a character!

Affordable racehorse ownership

Gunsynd was purchased for only $1,300 in 1969 by a newsagent owner, a hotelier, a grazier & business executive. The 4 men had one hope, to win a race at their local track.

Racing career

With 29 wins from 54 starts he achieved far more than winning a race at the local track! He debuted in 1969 at Eagle Farm and quickly turned heads with 4 wins from 4 starts! Bill Wehlow was training Gunsynd & was ecstatic, delivering 12 wins from 22 starts for the owners.

A change in trainer

But it was a change in trainer that catapulted Gunsynd, under the guidance of Tommy Smith he became a legendary racehorse.

The mile quadruple

In one season, he took out The Doncaster, The Epsom, The George Adams and The Toorak, he was virtually unbeatable over a mile; in his 7 starts at this distance, he was only ever beaten once – by half a head.

A courageous & charming racehorse

His most courageous race was the 1972 Melbourne Cup. He finished third but was carrying a huge 12.5kg over the winner on the day; his fighting spirit truly shone on that Cup day at Flemington.

Australia’s champion horse

In the ’71 / ’72 season, he won 5 group 1’s, including the Cox Plate and was rightfully awarded Champion racehorse of the year for the season.

Australian record for Prize Money

Gunsynd won more than $270,000 in prize money, an Australian record then; if today he had raced, his prize money would be over $11m!

Gunsynd, The Goondiwindi Grey

He is immortalised through the song by Tex Morton ‘The Goondiwindi Grey’, and there is a statue of him in the Queensland town for which he made famous. He is the only animal that graces Queensland’s Icon list, and he holds his place in Racing’s Hall of Fame… deservedly so for everything he achieved, for his courage & charm, and for being the greatest showman of them all.

Gunsynd, the Goondiwindi grey.

BOUNCE BACK FACTOR

As Tycoons were made aware of, there’s a theory in racing that when a horse suffers from cardiac arrhythmia, “you must back it next start” and they win.

And that was certainly the message after Cool Jakey suffered cardiac arrhythmia the previous start at Randwick, with Joe Pride telling Tycoons in the pre-race late mail, “Don’t worry about what happened last start, the horse is fine and he looks great,” how right Joe was with Cool Jakey leading all the way.

COOL JAKEY THE KING OF WARWICK FARM 050325

Cool Jakey battling to the line with Emmadella

Cool Jakey trainer Joe Pride, Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TK

Trainer Joe Pride and son Brave Pride, Jockey Adam Hyeronimus and TRL Rep TK

HIPPO FROM BARRIER TO BOX

Adam Hyeronimus was having his first sit on Cool Jakey and he rode him a treat. We joked before the race “just go to the front and improve your position” and that’s exactly what he did.

“He jumped well and found a nice rhythm straight away, he had a nice time so I let him slide early into it at the 600metres so we did go a bit early.

“He felt fantastic throughout the run and was doing it easily, so I did get a bit of a surprise how quickly he stopped.

“So maybe I did go too early, but in saying that, maybe seven furlongs is his upper limit. On that effort he’ll be winning again” Jockey Adam Hyeronimus said.

JOE DELIGHTED

“That was good guys” trainer Joe Pride said, with a big smile to a large contingent of NSW Tycoons on Cool Jakey returning to scale.

“Look it was nice to see him win on a track that wasn’t bottomless wet, it opens up a lot more opportunities for him.

“In saying that if there was a 1400m for him in a fortnight on a Good track I would probably be reluctant to start him. We need to nurse him through it and the next month – six weeks isn’t going to be easy because it’s carnival time.

Cool Jakey the king of Warwick Farm with NSW Tycoons

Cool Jakey in the winners circle with NSW Tycoons’ owners

WHATS NEXT – PACK YOUR BAGS

The Tycoons have been very patient with Cool Jakey and their patience has been rewarded. He is building a very nice career record which stands at only 13 starts for 5 wins and a minor placing and is now pushing the $200,000 in prize money.

‘Jakey’ has initially pulled up well, but we all know that he is a delicate soul and has to be treated with kindness and Joe is reluctant to push him too hard too quickly. Which is fair enough.

“We might even consider travelling him maybe to Melbourne or Brisbane for a wet track, we just need to look after him.

“He’s been a good horse for us, we will look after him and his best opportunities will come in the Winter,” Joe concluded.

Congratulations to all NSW Tycoons and winning connections.

Go you good thing!

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