Munitions ready to roll in Victoria Handicap
The success of gallopers like Hartnell and Avilius on Australian shores has led to boosted numbers of imported Godolphin horses.
While those gallopers hit the ground running, there have been a few that have taken a little longer to find their winning form in Australia.
While the latest crop of the European Godolphin imports are yet to be seen, the previous batch are up-and-running and includes Munitions that will head to the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sean Keogh, who is an integral part of the Melbourne stable of Godolphin trainer James Cummings, said Munitions was taking time to acclimatise to Australian conditions.
“He had one run last spring and a trial since,” Keogh said.
“Every year we get one or two imports and after the success with Hartell and Avilius, he’s another to come along.
“He came in the crop before the latest of our imports. He’s a horse that hasn’t acclimatised to Australian conditions as quickly as some of the others have.
“A lot of his French racing was on straight tracks so he’s getting used to the tempo here, and taking a couple of preps to get comfortable.
“Unlike horses like Avilius and Best Of Days who really got into the system quickly, he’s just a horse that is taking time.”
Munitions has had two starts this campaign, finishing fourth on each occasion, the latest in the Bert Lillye Memorial Handicap (1200m) on March 12.
One thing in Munitions’ favour this time is that he has been to the Melbourne stable previously when unplaced at Flemington last October.
“He’s still an entire so that brings difficulties with it, but it is all about getting him used to the pattern of Australian racing,” Keogh said.
“It looks a suitable race for him.”