The Old Marvel Munhamek Strikes in Winter Championship Series Final

Mark Smith - Saturday July 6

Munhamek (GB) made it three wins on the bounce when he gave his rivals weight, travelled three-wide, and still proved a class above in Saturday’s $200,000 Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington.

He is an old marvel (image Racing Photos)

Ridden by Jamie Mott for Nick Ryan, the 8-year-old son of Dark Angel hit the front inside the 300m and kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Lounge Bar Rubi (Rubick) by one and three-quarter lengths with Green Fly (Frankel) back in third.

Advertisement

The centre of an emotional win for Damien Oliver in the Group III WATC Gold Rush at Ascot in December, Munhamek (GB) advances his record to 13 wins, nine seconds, and eight third from 62 starts with earnings of $2,554,030.

“He didn’t have any favours in the run, and they were running along,” Ryan said.

“There is no doubt he has gone to another level. The more we give him, the more he keeps raising the bar. He has taken everyone on a pretty good journey. He has been in work for 16 months and has taught me plenty.”

Munhamek with his fan club (image Racing Photos)

  Munhamek (GB) won three of thirty starts in Hong Kong when trained by David Hall and Casper Fownes, and when trained by Ivan Furtado, he was a winner of two and runner-up in two of his four starts in England.

Bred by Shadwell Estate, Munhamek (GB) is the best of four winners from six to race for the Dansili mare Cadenza, a half-sister to Group III winner and Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas third Kandidate (Kabool), and Group III winner Star Valley (Starborough).

Advertisment

Race Result - VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final LR 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:35.65
1
Munhamek
- 8g Dark Angel (IRE) x Cadenza (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: J Mott 60.5
2
1.8
Lounge Bar Rubi
- 4g Rubick (AUS) x A Quiet Shandy (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
3
2.5
Green Fly
- 5g Frankel (GB) x Via Pisa (FR) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
4
2.5
King Magnus
- 8g Magnus (AUS) x Influential Miss (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 58
5
2.9
Galeron
- 4g Camacho (GB) x Society Gal (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54.5
6
3.4
Windstorm
- 7g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Storm Alert (AUS) (Metal Storm (FR))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
7
4.2
Duke De Sessa
- 5g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Dark Crusader (IRE) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 58.5
8
4.3
Pounding
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Silent Entrance (GB) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 56.5
9
12.3
Sibaaq
- 6g Dark Angel (IRE) x Maid To Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Celine Gaudray 54.5
10
14.5
Le Ferrari
- 4g Toronado (IRE) x Hai Lil (AUS) (Churchill Downs (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: D Moor 54
11
19.5
Flash Flood
- 6g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Giuditta (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
12
27.5
Too Close the Sun
- 8g Carlton House (USA) x Old Money (AUS) (Old Spice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55.5
More Reading...
Munhamek Dominates in Spear Chief
There is little argument that Nick Ryan is a rising star in the trainer ranks, and he has rejuvenated the career of the 7yo Dark Angel gelding Munhamek (GB), who earned a maiden stakes win in the Listed Nuturf Spear Chief Hcp (1500m) at Eagle Farm.
Hidrix Breeder Speechless After $1.7mColt Wins on Debut
The $1.7m Easter colt Hidrix (Extreme Choice) surged into Golden Slipper contention with a dominant debut victory in today’s G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
30th SW Almanzor - Manzor Blue Wins G3 Wellington Cup
Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Torryburn Stud Out To Continue Outstanding Classic Success
As the highest prizemoney earning Australian-bred still in training, six-time G1 winner Voyage Bubble is a graduate of the Inglis Classic yearling sale, having topped the 2020 sale when knocked down to Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu for $380,000m when offered by the Cornish’s Torryburn Stud. In 2026, the team presents a quaility draft of seven yearlings, four fillies and three colts.
One Last Time - Ollie Goes Out a Winner in Gold Rush
A ride to put the stamp on an incredible career, Damien Oliver scythed between runners from near last on the turn to capture the $1,500,000 Damien Oliver Gold Rush at Ascot on the Nick Ryan-trained Munhamek (GB).
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 31
Here is the full list of 103 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Staying Star for St Jean?
It turns out Caufield and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was not the only promising stayer by the ill-fated sire St Jean (IRE) sold as part of the Halo Racing Unreserved Reduction on Inglis Digital in November 2024. 
Wrote Mare Turns Back the Clock for Second G3 Bellmaine
Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday.
Black Type for Home Affairs Blueblood Filly
The Group III MRC Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday for colts and fillies produced a dominant winner in Big Sky with blueblood filly La Gitana a gallant third on debut.
G3 JRA Plate Goes To Willaidow
Having been a great money earner for connections, the Marc and Mitchell Conners trained Shamus Award gelding Willaidow recorded consecutive wins in the Group 3 sprint, taking out this year’s $250,000 ATC G3 JRA Plate (1200m) at Rosehill.