HAPPY BIRTHDAY – GUNSYND

Gunsynd
‘The Goondiwindi Grey’
Foaled October 4 1967

Champion-racehorse-Gunsynd-being-ridden-at-trackwork-April-1973

Gunsynd : the Goondiwindi Grey | John Oxley Library

Queensland History of Racing.

Read more www.queenslandhistoryofracing.com.au

Australians love a great racehorse and Gunsynd was one of the best. He even had a song written about him.
Gunsynd would have had to be one of the most popular racehorses to come out of Queensland. He cost only $1300 as a yearling and ended up Australia’s top money earner in the early 1970s. A brilliant miler who is the only horse to win Australia’s four Group 1 miles – Epsom, Toorak, Emirates and Doncaster – in the one season. Ran third in a Melbourne Cup carrying a mammoth 60kgs. Throughout his career, Gunsynd was trained by H. Wehlow and the late, great T.J. Smith

His sire Sunset Hue was a talented racehorse and as a 2yo won over 5 furlongs and was second in the AJC Sires Produce. In 18 race starts he also won an Encourage Hcp and AJC Trial Hcp over 10 furlongs before being injured in VRC Derby which resulted in an early retirement to stud. In addition to Gunsynd Sunset Hue also sired the stakes winners Sunset Sue, Sun Opal, Sunset Gem, Sunset Red and Thumb Print. Gunsynd was a member of his third crop and Sunset Hue was ultimately at stud for 8 seasons.

Gynsynd statue Goondiwindi

Gunsynd’s dam was Woodie Wonder was a twin. That she survived and then went on to produce a champion at stud is a great story in itself. She started in only one race where she ran third at Tamworth before going to stud. Gunsynd was foaled in 1967. Woodie Wonder died in April 1980

Gunsynd had a total of 54 starts with 29 wins, 6.5 – 2nds, 8 – 3rds, 7 – 4ths