Munro gets quick return

Swannanoa horseman Bronson Munro has a wider than usual smile on his dial last night.

He made the call to buy recently qualified southern filly Easton Doll (Sweet Lou) from Gore trainer Brian Norman.

“The beautiful thing about Brian is he’s no bullshit. He just said the horse wasn’t his cup of tea,” Munro said after Easton Doll easily cleared maiden ranks at Addington last night.

Driver Carter Dalgety took the three year old filly to the top and she won with something in hand, beating favourite Dance Hall Girl by a length.

“It was a textbook Carter drive. Get to the top, pinch (a break) and just break their hearts from the six (600 metres).”

EASTON DOLL REPLAY

Easton Doll was bred by Norman and is out of the unraced Bettor’s Delight mare Delightfull Doll.

She qualified at Winton in April and was purchased by Munro.

“We had Mostert for the same group of owners. We sold him and he got picked up on the Monday and there was a Gavelhouse auction on the Wednesday. We bought her for $5,000 and she came back on the Kentuckiana truck on the Sunday. We were only a week between horses. We were pretty lucky to find one so quickly.”

Prior to last week’s debut, Munro took Easton Doll to the Rangiora trials.

“She’d been perfect at home. She went to the trials and she looked like an octopus that had hopples on with her legs going here there and everywhere and she was hanging. I brought her home and changed a couple of things. She had her first start last week and was super.”

After last week’s second, Dalgety recommended a couple of gear changes for last night’s race.

“We took the pole off, changed the mini bit to a lunging bit, put a murphy blind on and added a rein pricker instead of a hard pole. He said she was a lot sharper last night and he eased her down over the last hundred.”

Those listening to Trackside coverage would have heard the increase in noise level as Easton Doll headed for home.

“There was a group of about ten of us there. There were a few boys in the Casebrook Cartel Syndicate, that’s Josh McDermott and a few of his school mates. A few of them hadn’t had a Friday night winner before, so that was pretty cool for them.”

Also included in the large ownership group are trainers Andrew Drake and Scott Phelan, junior driver Harrison Orange and farrier Paul Howlett.

“Josh Devine is another trainer in the group. He’s in the Four Floors Syndicate. We’ve got Richard and Andrew Didham of galloping fame. I had a galloper with Dicko (Richard Didham) and he’s in on this horse. I’ve trained two winners and two seconds for him and I’m still to get onboard with one of his.” (laughter)

So after the win, is Easton Doll on the market?

“There are some phone number figures that have been thrown around by the ownership group. I don’t know how accurate they’re going to be. For the right money she’s on the market. The group chat is called Dolly2theoaks so apparently we’re going to the New Zealand Oaks. But obviously she’s got a bit to prove before then (laughter). We might try and pick another one up with her in the next couple of starts, give her a freshener and if she’s on the right track look at Cup Week. The boys are full of hope, but we’ll just let her do the talking. It does seem like she’s getting better every time she steps out.”

Meanwhile Munro has taken up the role of training for Robert Famularo at Dancingonmoonlight Stables at Swannanoa and is excited about the opportunity.

“There are about eight yearlings and ten weanlings to break in this year for Robert and there’s a lot more coming. Obviously he’s been a great supporter of the game. He believes in what he and Sam Langrope the Farm Manager are doing breeding wise. They get these horses up and going as early two year olds and flick them on. They’re not worried if they have to keep them and race them in those better two year old races. When you’ve got plenty coming through, it’s a good way to operate I think. Robert has cranked the handle up a bit and is starting to breed a few more again, so I’m pretty fortunate to be in the position I am with those sorts of horses.”

Munro’s four year old son Leo was also on-course last night. He’s getting fully emersed in the sport.

“He was the first one down in the birdcage. He knows where he’s going. He knows all the horses and picks them out on the track and knows all the drivers. He’s pretty keen on it. He’s keen on golf and I might point him more in that direction. We’ve got a nine-hole par three golf course on the farm. At the weekends he comes out and gets to do a bit of work, then play golf which he’s pretty happy about.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink