South Africans Doing It Abroad

  • manwatweet
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago
#864880
Munger makes great first impression, looks for lasting one at Woodbine

May 12, 2023

TORONTO, May 12, 2023– Ryan Munger couldn’t have scripted the moment any better.

As he walked out of the Woodbine jockeys’ room for the first race on May 6 at Woodbine, the champion jockey who had already made a name for himself competing in his native South Africa and in Singapore, imagined what it would be like to make that first start a winning one.

The thought crossed his mind again when he got a leg up over the 3-year-old dark bay gelding Silent Miracle in the paddock ahead of the sixth race on an overcast afternoon at the Toronto oval. It was no different as the field made its way through the tunnel and onto the racetrack, in the moments heading to the starting gate, and when starter Ian Ross sent the nine horses on their way in the seven-furlong race over the Tapeta.

Silent Miracle’s 10-1 odds suggested Munger, given the mount after Kazushi Kimura was handed the reins of Mandarin Hero (JPN) in the Kentucky Derby, had an outside shot of seeing that dream realized, but it would require a combination of racing luck, a solid trip, and a strong finish.

Sitting a half-length back of the frontrunner and a head in front of another contender at the stretch call, the duo was carried out late by a drifting rival before striking front and then holding on for a neck score.

Mission accomplished.

Silent Miracle and jockey Ryan Munger winning race 6 on May 6, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo)
Silent Miracle and jockey Ryan Munger winning race 6 on May 6, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo)
“Strangely enough, I was very calm that day and in the moment,” recalled Munger. “I was actually so calm that I surprised myself. The horse, he did seem a head better than the field, so I just had to put him in the right spot. He broke out of the gate very well and I was able to put him in the spit I wanted to. He is a pretty simple horse to ride. I thought we had won quite comfortably, but when I saw the photo-finish it was a bit tighter than I had thought. But I did think I had it.”

Munger, who has his Canadian citizenship, was still beaming the day after his milestone moment.

“It’s the usual feeling whenever you win… joy. Every winner I’ve had has brought me joy. What is different about this one is that it came at Woodbine. So, it was just a very happy moment.”

Born September 15, 1995, in Durban, and raised in Johannesburg, Munger attended the South African Jockey Academy and completed his five-year apprenticeship there from 2011-2015.

His first mount came aboard Vladimir (SAF) on October 23, 2012, at Scottsville in South Africa. Just over two months later, he guided Nordic Lass (SAF) to victory at Clairwood, also in his homeland.

Since then, Munger, whose uncle, Stuart Randolph, was a jockey, has amassed nearly 800 career wins, and has been a Top 10 staple in South Africa and Singapore. He was the leading rider in Zimbabwe in 2017 and 2018.

Now, some 13,800-plus kilometres from where he grew up, Munger, who once described himself in an interview as a “very placid and a generally positive person,” will chase his goal of becoming a top rider in one of North America’s most competitive jockey colonies.

“You always have to be an edge better than the other rider. It is a very competitive jockey colony. It is challenging, but I’ve got confidence in myself. I’m going to work, be myself, be nice, and hopefully everything falls into place.”

So far, it has, both at the racetrack and on the home front.

Munger, along with his wife, Kelsey, are currently living with jockey agent Mike Luider and his wife in Milton, about a 30-minute drive west of Woodbine.

Ryan Munger and wife Kelsey Mayhew-Munger
Ryan Munger and wife Kelsey Mayhew-Munger
“I can’t complain. The first week, I thought, ‘It’s very cold here.’ But the weather is great, and the people are unbelievable. I was very surprised to see how many nice and polite people are here, and how helpful they are. Everyone always says what nice people Canadians are, but they have really taken it up a notch. Everyone is so accommodating and helpful.”

Munger has been making the rounds on the Woodbine backstretch, introducing himself to trainers and other horse people.

Those visits, daily ones, are as much about gaining familiarity with trainers as they are about the possibility of earning future mounts. ​

“Even if there isn’t an opportunity to ride for them now, I want to be courteous, have a smile on my face, and say hello. You hope that somewhere down the road someone will say, ‘Let’s give this guy a chance.’”

If his first win is any indication of his abilities in the irons, those opportunities should come his way.

As for riding style, Munger prefers to let his horses call the shots.

“I ride each horse as to what their strength is. I don’t overcomplicate things. When those gates open, it’s a completely different ballgame than what you have mapped out in your mind. Some horses might not break the way you expected, some are quicker than you anticipated. I concentrate on my horse and try to get them to peak at the right time during the race. That’s my philosophy, to get the best out of my horse on that particular day.”

Munger is eager to test out his skills on Woodbine’s two turf courses. He already has rave reviews for the main track.

“The inside turf course looks like a very technical track from watching the replays. The E.P. Taylor looks like one I will really enjoy riding because I can judge the pace well, bide my time and hopefully make that winning move.

“The Tapeta, it’s like a duck taking to water. We had that type of course in Singapore and it was exactly as I remember it. You put the horse where they have the best chance to be comfortable. What’s crucial about the Tapeta is where you get your horse going. When you are able to find that right moment, you can really increase your chances of winning. That’s what happened when we won that race, where we found that opening and had the momentum to go on from that moment.”

Ryan Munger and wife Kelsey Mayhew-Munger
Ryan Munger and wife Kelsey Mayhew-Munger
When he isn’t chasing his next victory, Munger, an accomplished cricketer in his youth, as well as a fan of Premier League football side Arsenal, enjoys hitting the links for a round of golf.

He’s looking to test out Canadian fairways and greens in the coming weeks. ​

“Hopefully, the golf will come soon. Watching Arsenal has been tricky so far. I’m still trying to find a channel that shows the Premier League games. I found a channel that shows all the IPL (India Premier League) games, so that’s good. One of these days, hopefully soon, I can get out on that golf course.”

Munger’s main focus will continue to be on establishing himself as an in-demand rider at Canada’s Showplace of Racing.

He might not be the only Munger making a name for themselves at Woodbine.

“Kelsey has settled in quite well. She’s happy. We’re just trying to get her paperwork in order. Once that is sorted out, she can start working here. She’s looking forward to that, but we just have to be patient with the process. She has a lot of qualifications. She can be an assistant trainer, she can gallop, she can breeze. She rode in amateur races back in South Africa, so she’s very competent at a lot of things. Whatever the right job is, she’ll work to find it.”

The move to Canada has already felt like a winning one for Munger.

“I enjoy the competition and I certainly enjoy crossing the wire first. Hopefully, there are plenty more of those to come.”

Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @woodbinecomms

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  • Bob Brogan
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago
#864881
The long rumour that the Fortune family are on their travels has been confirmed this week.... 🦘🦘

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  • Craig Pienaar
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago
#864882
Had to happen , plenty more to follow

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  • mikesack
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago
#864884
An acquaintance who is living in Canada once told me that....
strangely enough the Mafia in Toronto are the Sri Lankans.:silly:

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  • Dave Scott
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago
#864885
Many opportunities in Canada if you are younger, plenty jobs and space .

Remember it's also the second biggest country after Russia.

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  • manwatweet
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago
#864888
Moving to Canada

Moving to Canada
Posted by Ara Soysa on June 20, 192001 at 09:50:41
Extracted from a diary (true story they say..)

Aug. 12 - Moved to our new home in Canada. I am so excited. It's so beautiful here. The mountains are so majestic. Can hardly wait to see them with snow covering them.

Oct. 14 - Canada--it is the most beautiful place on earth. The leaves have turned all colors and shades of red and orange. Went for a ride through the beautiful countryside and saw some deer. They are so graceful. Certainly they are the most wonderful animals on earth. This must be paradise. I love it here!

Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day. Deer season starts soon. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill such a gorgeous creature. Hope it snows soon. I love it here!

Dec. 2 - It snowed last night. Woke up to find everything blanketed with white. It looks like a postcard. We went outside and cleaned the snow off the steps and shoveled the driveway. We had a snowball fight (I won). When the snow plough came by we had to shovel the driveway again. What a beautiful place. I love Canada!

Dec. 12 - More snow last night. The snow plough did his trick again to the driveway. I love it here.

Dec. 19 - More snow last night. Couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work. It's beautiful here but I'm exhausted from shoveling. Fucking snow plough.

Dec. 22 - More of that white shit fell last night. I've got blisters on my hands and a sore back from shoveling. I think the snow plough hides around the corner until I'm done shoveling the driveway. Asshole.

Dec. 25 - Merry Fucking Christmas! More frigging snow. If I ever get my hands on the sonovabitch who drives the snow plough, I swear I'll kill the bastard. Don't know why they don't use more salt on the roads to melt the fucking ice.

Dec. 27 - More white shit last night. Been inside for three days now except for shoveling out the driveway after that snow plough goes through every time. Can't go anywhere, the car's stuck in a mountain of white shit and it's so frigging cold. The weatherman says to expect another 10 inches of the shit again tonight. Do you know how many shovels full of snow 10 inches is?

Dec. 28 - That fucking weatherman was wrong. We got 34 inches of the shit this time. At this rate it won't melt before summer. The snow plough got stuck up in the road and that bastard came to my door and asked to borrow my shovel. After I told him that I had already broken six shovels shoveling out all the shit he had pushed into my driveway, I damn near broke my last one over his fucking head.

Jan. 4 - Finally got out of the house today. Went to the store to get food and on my way back a damned deer ran in front of the car. Did about $3,000 damage to the car. Those fucking beasts should be killed. The bastards are everywhere. Wish the hunters had exterminated them all last November.

May 3 - Took the car to the garage in town. Would you believe the thing is rusted out from all that fucking salt they put all over the roads.

May 10 - Moved to Florida. I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would ever want to live in such a God forsaken place as Canada!

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  • Sylvester
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago - 2 years 4 weeks ago
#864895
Baby MDK horse runs third in Ozie Grade One with Aberfeldie Boy.
The run of Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock's Aberfeldie Boy ($10) had plenty of merit, he was out the back and wide early and hit the line hard but had to settle for third, the same position he finished in the Group 1 Victoria Derby in the spring.
Last edit: 2 years 4 weeks ago by Sylvester.

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  • Sammy Silver
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 4 weeks ago
#864897
The long rumour that the Fortune family are on their travels has been confirmed this week.... 🦘🦘

Are they moving to Australia?

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  • Dave Scott
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 3 weeks ago
#865047

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  • Sammy Silver
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 3 weeks ago
#865054

I knew this was inevitable as he was not getting many chances!

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  • Sammy Silver
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 3 weeks ago
#865055
Warren Kennedy really riding well in New Zealand.

He scored a treble there on Saturday.

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  • Sammy Silver
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Re: South Africans Doing It Abroad

2 years 3 weeks ago
#865056
Any news on how Callan Murray is doing?

I know he went to Australia but the winners are far in between!!

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