Munger seeks sweet future in Maple Country
RYAN Munger is the latest South African rider to add his name to the growing list of jockeys seeking a brighter future outside the borders of the country.
Currently seventh on the jockeys log for the season, Munger is reportedly on his way to Ontario in Canada where he is set to continue his career when the Canadian season kicks off on 22 April.
According to canadianthoroughbred.com, the 27-year-old Munger and his wife Kelsey, who is a licensed assistant trainer and work rider, hope to arrive in Canada a couple of weeks before the start of their season.
“I am looking forward to it very much,” said Munger when talking to
Canadian Thoroughbred this week. “Woodbine has a good racing product and looks like a great place to ride.”
Munger, who was born in Durban, has never been to Canada, but has relatives in the eastern part of the country.
Growing up in South Africa, Munger was influenced by his uncle, Stuart Randolph, a very successful rider in South Africa.
He rode his first race when he was 17 years old and quickly became one of the most respected riders in South Africa. He was the champion rider in Zimbabwe in 2017/2018 season and in 2020, rode in Singapore where he also had a successful campaign.
Munger is currently in the midst of a top season in South Africa and scored a feature treble at Turffontein recently.
His treble started in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m on the Ashley Fortune-trained Rafeef filly Ipso Facto.
In the 4Racing Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m, Munger was aboard the only three-year-old in the race, the Ashley Fortune-trained Oratorio gelding Good Council, who jumped from draw five.
Munger also rode the Roy Magnertrained The Apache filly Apache Fighter in the Non-Black Type 4Racing Sun Chariot Handicap over 2400m to victory.
Ipso Facto is now a favourite for the
South African Oaks, and Good Council a top contender for the South African Derby. Both races are on the first weekend of April.
The idea of moving to Canada came about during his stint in Singapore. “My wife and I were there during (the COVID-19) lockdown. We tossed around ideas about other places where we might go to ride. We knew about Woodbine, and how big it was, and at first, I thought it was in the US. When I realized it was in Canada, I was even more interested.”
So far this season, Munger has ridden 80 winners from 720 rides and has finished in the placings a total of 258 times for a 47 percent win/place strike rate.