Feelgood stories of the local racing season

In a season where racing headlines have been dominated by corruption controversies and squabbles between prominent identities, the feelgood stories have been missed by many.

Horse racing is considered corrupt by many outsiders and the disgraceful fall by legendary jockey Damien Oliver did little to strengthen the industry’s credibility.

Six months later, prominent owner John Singleton and leading trainer Gai Waterhouse consumed national headlines with the More Joyous scandal. It was an unprecedented issue for horse racing with the case revolving around the use of a single three-letter word – off.

Bad publicity haunts the racing industry and its association with gambling will take eons for this to change.

But let’s forget about all that because this year also produced heart-warming stories, which easily get forgotten due to the industry’s reputation.

Cancer no match for Chris Munce
The career of Chris Munce has endured more twists and turns than a season of Neighbours. But in the latest episode of Munce’s career, sheer determination saw the champion rider fight off cancer and return to riding.

At 44 years of age, the father of three had every right to call it quits from one of the world’s most dangerous professions.

He had nothing left to prove in the industry where he is one of seven members in the Grand Slam Club having won all four majors – Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.

Diagnosed with throat cancer in December, Munce quickly underwent two months of intensive radiation therapy to fight off the lump found in his throat. Living on just soup and jelly after the cancer treatment destroyed his taste buds, returning to riding should have been the last thing on his mind.

But, like a true Aussie battler, Munce returned to riding in minimal fanfare.

Taking a few rides at Queensland’s midweek meetings, Munce returned without missing a beat.

The best win of his season came in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas when he partnered one of his favourite horses, Sizzling, to victory after fighting off cancer.

Craig Williams claims redemption
11 months prior, Craig Williams found himself avoiding all forms of society as he spent 2011 Melbourne Cup day in an empty movie theatre.

The race that stops a nation was about to be run and Williams wanted nothing to do with it; he just couldn’t bear to watch.

Issued a suspension for careless riding in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup, Williams was on a dream run having claimed the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. His Melbourne Cup mount, Dunaden, was one of the favourites and Williams had the chance to be the first jockey to claim all three spring majors in the same season.

But a failed attempt to overturn the suspension at VCAT rubbed Williams out of the ride and French jockey Christophe Lemaire went on to claim the Melbourne Cup aboard Williams’ mount, Dunaden.

It may not have been the Melbourne Cup, but Williams reunited with Dunaden in the 2012 Caulfield Cup.

A masterful ride which will go down as one of the best of his career saw Williams produce a last to first effort and a glimmer of redemption.

Miracle on Stojakovic Street
Last week, Roar Expert Cameron Rose briefly mentioned this as his favourite moment of the Australian racing season.

It was an against all odds moment in racing history when little-known apprentice jockey Lauren Stojakovic rode Miracles Of Life for little-known country trainer Daniel Clarken in the Group 1 Blue Diamond.

They took on the powerhouse stables of Melbourne and Sydney and even keen punters were scratching their heads over who the pair were.

The $1million race was going to change the lives of connections and Miracles Of Life was a genuine contender.

Stojakovic, a South Australian apprentice rider had never ridden in a Group 1 race but connections of the horse stuck with her for the million dollar ride.

No one would have blamed them for replacing her with an experience metropolitan rider but, in the ultimate show of faith, she retained the Blue Diamond ride.

It was the gambler’s dilemma of probability versus faith. Loyalty is rarely found within the industry when such high stakes are in play but on this occasion, Stojakovic took the weight of the world on her inexperienced shoulder.

The faith shown in her paid off when she produced a perfect ride and duly saluted on the biggest stage of her career in the underdog fairytale.

Roarers, what was your favourite moment of the Australian racing season?