Racing: Win a bonus for international jockey

A ring-rusty Alan Munro just wants to stay out of the judicial room at Rotorua today - a win would be a bonus.

But if the 38-year-old thinks he is going to escape the spotlight when he jumps aboard Glenview Lass in his first raceday ride for 4 1/2 years, he could be in trouble.

After all, they don't get a lot of English Derby-winning jockeys making their comeback in a low-key $7000 intermediate 1900m event at Arawa Park.
After riding up to seven horses a morning in trackwork for trainer Stephen Autridge for the past month, Munro got a taste of what his eagerly anticipated raceday return would feel like with three mounts at the Te Awamutu trials yesterday.

But one of the modern-day British greats, with 38 international group winners, 12 of those at group one level, admits his stomach will still be churning with excitement and nerves before the real thing begins today.

"It felt terrific in my first ride at the trials," said Munro, between putting the polish back on his famous American style yesterday.

"I'm enjoying leaving the gates and going around again at race speed.

"But there's a lot of other things to consider on raceday, like timing and the use of the whip.

"I'm a big risk. If I can just get around and not end up in the stewards' room I'll be happy."

A lot of questions will be answered for the modest Munro after he rides Glenview Lass, Wicker and Mon Pere Cheri today.

The most important is whether he has regained the passion for riding that was missing the last time he was in action at Hong Kong in June 2000.

Aside from a few minor breeding and horse management interests, in which he developed the Autridge contact, Munro remained in Hong Kong but took a complete break from the sport, focusing his energies instead into gaining his black belt in karate.

"I did sell a couple of horses in that time which sold well but apart from that I haven't made a bean.

"I stayed in Hong Kong but have lived a quiet life since then. As soon as you step out of racing, nothing comes with you.

"You lose your identity completely and have to remake your life without it.

"The first year was quite tough but it does get better. In fact, I was in such a comfort zone I had to shake myself out of that to come back to riding."

Munro plans to stay based in Hamilton until mid-February, honing his fitness and race-riding style until making a serious return to the English turf season in March.

He knows his biggest hurdle then will be overcoming the perception that he has been away from riding for too long.

Physically and mentally, the 53kg-stripped Munro knows he has never been better.

His passion for martial arts has kept him in awesome shape and the break from riding he had always planned to take has made him a much more rounded and relaxed person.

"It's a big call making a comeback after being away for so long but things can happen quickly in racing," he said. "If you get on the right horse, anything can happen."

While he would love to ride at a major New Zealand meeting before returning to Britain, for now the jockey who steered Generous to Derby stardom in 1991 is content to let Arawa Park feel like a red-letter day at Ascot.

"I will find out a lot at Rotorua," said Munro. "I'm not expecting to get all the answers but I'd like to think it will give me a good idea of where I'm at and give me something to build on.

"A win would be nice. I'll certainly be trying."

Autridge is confident he has two winning rides for Munro in Glenview Lass and Wicker.

Glenview Lass was rated good enough to contest most of the major 3-year-old fillies races last season from Robert Priscott's barn and has had no luck in her three starts for Autridge.

She was blocked for room in her fresh-up run over 1400m at Ellerslie, flushed wide in her follow-up over 1600m on the same course, then got badly checked when favourite last time out over 2170m at Tauranga.

Autridge said the front-running Wicker should be suited to the tight Rotorua track and he expects him to bounce back from his fresh-up miss at Hastings when tripped up by the cut in the ground.

"Hopefully it will be two rides, two wins for Alan. That's the plan."