Racing: NZ launch pad for former Derby winner

English Derby winning jockey Alan Munro would not be out of place in a list of the world's most accomplished jockeys.

But all he wants is to ride at today's Paeroa trials.

Munro, 38, will base himself in Hamilton for the next six weeks as he prepares to regain peak fitness in time for the English turf season beginning in March.

A winner of 12 group one races in England, Ireland, France, the United States, Italy, Hong Kong and Spain, Munro took a four-year sabbatical from riding after the completion of the 2000 Hong Kong season. He travelled, gained a black belt in karate and "lived a bit".

But his focus is now firmly on regaining his place at the top of the English riding ranks, beginning by getting his fitness back to a standard he is satisfied with.

That started this week, riding trackwork for trainers Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge.

While Munro said he would love to ride races while he was in New Zealand, he was happy to start out riding trials.

"I'd like nothing better than to get back race riding straight away but I have to be realistic," he said.

"My plan is to be in top shape when I get back to England in March for the start of the turf season.

"I'll ride at the trials on Thursday and that will give me a good idea of where my condition is and how far I am from race riding.

"There are four or five trial days while I'm here so at the least I'll have the opportunities. I've been out of racing for the last four years and I have missed it.

"But I'd love to pay Stephen Autridge and Graeme Rogerson back for their support with a couple of winners on raceday."

Described by British racing website www.jockeysroom.com as "one of the all-time great jockeys", Munro rode in Hong Kong for 12 years, permanently based there from 1994 to 2000, riding against now retired Kiwi jockeys Lance O'Sullivan and Nigel Tiley.

Among his highlights have been riding Zoman to win the 1992 Budweiser International at Washington and Industrialist's Hong Kong Cup win in 2000. But his best wins came aboard star three-year-old stayer Generous.

Munro rode Generous to win the English Derby, Irish Derby and the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes all in the space of eight weeks in June-July 1991.

The pair were reaquainted last week at Westbury Stud, where Generous stands for the New Zealand breeding season as a shuttle stallion.

"He was just an exception to the rule," Munro said.

"Those wins put me on the world stage. Generous opened up all those doors for me and I'll be forever grateful to him and his connections."

Munro has been to New Zealand only once before, on a weekend trip to see his broodmare Plans Awry, who is based at Cambridge Stud.

He has sold three of her foals, races a fourth - maiden galloper Halo - from the Cambridge stables of Chris and Colleen Wood.

- NZPA