GRAPES & GALLOPS By Geoff Whittle
On Sunday, 19th January 2020 the very popular Mount Barker Grapes & Gallops include the Mungrup Stud Sprint is being held at Frost Park, McDonald Ave in Mount Barker.
Grapes & Gallops is the highlight of the racing season in the Great Southern where patrons are able to witness top class country racing with a eight event race card and sample the wines of Mount Barker’s wineries. Gourmet foods are also available and children’s entertainment provided. A very relaxed day.
The Mungrup Stud Sprint over 1300 metres attracts a strong field of sprinters from the metropolitan area and the south west, and in most years the winner has gone on to win more high class races in the Perth or the big provincial feature sprints.
Ann Croucher, and family, of Mungrup Stud have continued to sweep all before them with the young horses produced on their Narrikup property. Their young stallion Oratorio has been producing a string of winners of Perth feature races including the Karrakatta Plate (2yo) winners Gold Rocks and Motion Pictures.
Other top class black type performers are Waratah’s Secret, and tough mare Clueless Angel. Oratorio stood the 2010 season for a service fee of $33,000 by far the highest in the State, and had a full book of mares.
Enquiries or bookings can be directed to Mount Barker Turf Club Secretary, on 0447 512 873.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | WEIGHT | TIME | MARGIN |
| 2019 | Reykjavik | Lindsey Smith | Daniel Staek | 54 | 1.17.69 | 2 |
| 2018 | RED ORA | Steve Wolfe | Shaun McGruddy | 54.4 | 1.19.33 | 2.25 |
| 2017 | REBEL KING | Darren McAuliffe | William PIKE | 54 | 1.16.87 | 1 |
| 2016 | DREAM LIFTER | Paul HUNTER | Mitchell PATEMAN | 55 | 1.17.50 | 2.25 |
| 2015 | DAWN APPROACH | V. SIGLEY | Takahide IKENUSHI | 54.5 | 1.16.89 | 0.75 |
| 2014 | COMFYSOFA | SIMON A MILLER | Jason WHITING | 54 | 1.17.81 | 0.75 |
| 2013 | WATERMANS BAY | PETER & MATT GIADRESCO | T.TURNER | 54 | 1.16.91 | 1.25 |
| 2012 | REIMBURSEMENT | ROSS & CLINT PRICE | K.YUILL | 54 | 1.17.37 | NOSE |
| 2011 | XAARAVID | G.E DALY | J.NOSKE | 54 | 1.16.80 | 1.5 |
| 2010 | SPITFIRE ACE | D.T McAULIFFE | S.O’DONNELL | 53 | 1.15.14 | 1.5 |
| 2009 | ELECTRIC GENERAL | N.PARNHAM | M.FORDER | 53.5 | 1.16.71 | 2 |
| 2008 | NOBLE STEED | M.K SOLLY | L.ROBERTSON | 55 | 1.16.79 | 2 |
| 2007 | MY LEO | Paul HUNTER | D.STAECK | 54 | 1.16.55 | 1.5 |
| 2006 | METALLURGY | A.McNAMARA (Snr) | L.ROBERTSON | 53 | 1.16.54 | 0.05 |
| 2005 | IMPRESSIVE STATS | D.McAULIFFE | P.HARVEY | 58.5 | 1.16.29 | 0.05 |
| 2004 | CHUCKA KHAN | C.WOLFE | A.SANSON | 52 | 1.16.42 | 1.5 |
| 2003 | SHANE’S BOY | N.PATEMAN | A.SANSON | 52.5 | 1.16.83 | SHT NECK |
| 2002 | JUMALLIQUE | N.PARNHAM | M.SESTICH | 56 | 1.16.40 | .5 HEAD |
| 2001 | RINGROAD | J.ASKEVOLD | J.LEMON | 52.5 | 1.17.70 | L/HEAD |
| 2000 | RINGROAD | J.ASKEVOLD | P.HARVEY | 52.5 | 1.17.04 | 1.25 |
| 1999 | NORTHERN BLIZZARD | D.SOLLY | D. MILLER | 52.5 | 1.17.19 | 2 |
| 1998 | SKIP THE COUNTRY | D.PANIZZA | R.FARRELL | 53 | 1.16.59 | 2.5 |
| 1997 | TURN A GLOW | C.JONES | J.LEMON | 57 | 1.16.56 | 0.75 |
| 1996 | NATIONAL PLEASURE | N.R LEE | Danny MILLER | 52 | 1.15.89 | 0.75 |
| 1995 | LEGERMAN | R.PRICE | M.SESTICH | 56 | 1.16.12 | NOSE |
| 1994 | POWER QUEST | F.H MAYNARD | Danny MILLER | 53.5 | 1.17.37 | 0.05 |
| 1993 | STAR STATE | S.WOLFE | J.OLIVER | 52.5 | 1.16.47 | NOSE |
| 1992 | ALBANY GOLD | W.WILKINSON | M.HUNTER | 51 | 1.17.47 | 0.75 |
| 1991 | SPLIT IMAGE | S.HUNTER | J.LEMON | 51.5 | 1.16.57 | 0.75 |
| 1990 | ON OUR SELECTION | S.WOLFE | N.RUDLAND | 56.5 | 1.16.39 | 2.5 |
| 1989 | DOOZEMBURG | S.KETI | S.J MILLER | 52.5 | 1.17.57 | 1 |
| 1988 | MANHATTAN | W.FELT | P.DYSON | 51 | 1.17.75 | NECK |
| 1987 | OSSIE PAK | W.JEFFRIES | A.SMITH | 53 | 1.16.74 | NECK |
| 1986 | TALASTAR | K.FASOLO | C.FOX | 51 | 1.16.43 | 1.5 |
| 1985 | RED DRAGON | P.PARSONS | V.SIGLEY | 52 | 1.14.44 | NECK |