Mun Lee with Smith

Press, 5 August 1980, Page 23

Mun Lee with Smith

Special correspondent New Plymouth Mun Lee, the 1977-78 “Filly of the Year” and one of the better mares to .rafin the North Island in the last couple of seasons, has joined the New Plymouth stable of Malcolm Smith.

Prepared for her first four seasons of racing by Don Sellwood at Hastings. Mun Lee arrived in New Plymouth over the week-end. She is reportedly looking well, having been in work for a couple of months. As a top flight performer at most distances in both handicap and weight-for-age races, Mun Lee will fill a gap in the Smith stable which, until her arrival, lacked a runner of the six-year-old’s proven class. Smith said yesterday he had not set plans for Mun Lee, which is among the numerous entries for the Caulfield Cup. Mun Lee comes to New Plymouth as the winner of over $lOO,OOO from 11 wins and 18 minor ’ placings, gained from only 40 outings. During her early career, Mun Lee was raced on lease by a Wellington car dealer, Mr M. Nelson. Tor him she won a juvenile event from three starts. On the way to winning the “Filly of the Year” series, Mun Lee was placed in the Desert Gold. Lowland and Royal Stakes as well as the New Zealand Oaks and 1000 Guineas. She gained the title with autumn wins in the Great Northern Oaks and the Manawatu Breeders* Stakes. However, her best win was fn the North Island Chai-* lenge Stakes when she accounted for Grey . Way, Milo and Vice Regel in smart time. Mun Lee won $41,200 as a three-year-old from her 11 outings, four wins and five placings. From 14 starts at four, her only wins were in the Rotorua; Challenge Stakes and the DB Galaxy Stakes at Ellerslie. However, placl ings in events like the Trentham Stakes and Japan-New Zealand International helped her win over $30,000 for the term. , Mun Lee' won a similar amount at five. She won a couple of sprints on her home track before taking the Topsy Stakes at Otaki and the Pahiatua Stakes at Woodville. She was a gallant fifth in the Auckland Cup while her other placings included a third in the Penfolds Chardon Mile at Trentham. During the last term, Mun Lee was raced by Mr Nelson in partnership with the mare’s breeder, Mr D. J. Gordon, of Hawke’s Bay.