We have all witnessed racehorses with a cantankerous streak in them, a mind of their own to do exactly the opposite of what is required. More often this takes the form of refusing to line up and jump off or ducking out at obstacles over the jumps. On the Flat, playing up in the paddock, a refusal to go forwards or even enter the stalls is the usual manifestation. Strangely those horses which display such behaviours are often very talented indeed… if they put their minds to it. One was such a handful that if he had been human he’d have been locked away in a straight jacket, yet he was good enough to win a Classic.
Bought out of Ireland for £30k on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed, Moonax was sent to be trained in England by Barry Hills but proved a problem from the outset. To say Moonax was unruly would be a vast understatement and downright vicious would be nearer the mark. The staff at his new home flatly refused to go anywhere near him and it was left to leading stable hand, Joyce Wallsgrove, to look after him, especially as he had a real hatred of anything male and within a short time a sign was hung outside his box warning people not to approach too near.
Training the wayward youngster was also a challenge for Hills as Moonax was more likely to try and savage any other horse in his vicinity and it was November before the two-year-old made his racecourse debut. This race lasted a mere two furlongs as Moonax jumped off well and was racing close up when one of the other debutants jinked violently to his left, badly impeding three other horses in the tightly-packed bunch as they all collided and Richard Quinn was unseated as Moonax stumbled.
Denne historien er fra October 2020-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra October 2020-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton