Trainer Chris Munce has his eyes set on the early 2YO races so it had to be a quick turn around to name the Snitzel x Typing filly! Naming nominations for this filly kicked off just three weeks ago, and with the help of a smart team at Racing Australia this filly will go to trial on Monday 23 September with her racing name.
As part of the miRunners ownership model naming suggestions are open to the public and just like previous miRunners horses, this filly had hundreds of name suggestions. Steven Brown, miRunners CEO says:
“It is so incredible to have so many people being a part of this process. We have owners in this filly nominating names, miRunners owners in other horses nominating names and members of the public who just love racing entering names.”
Owner privileges are maintained though, with only owners in the horse can cast a vote on the final name. And in that vote the owners of the Snitzel x Typing filly chose from a shortlist of thirty names. The winning name is:
Northern Thunder
This forward Snitzel x Typing filly is the first horse to be named in partnership with Racing Queensland, and Racing Queensland are thrilled with the name and what this means for racing and thoroughbred ownership in Queensland.
Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said:
“This first horse highlights the important marketing partnership between Racing Queensland and miRunners. Northern Thunder will race in maroon colours, has a real Sunshine State name and is trained in Queensland – what a great treble for Queensland racing.”
Northern Thunder is by leading Sire Snitzel, and this filly is the first by Snitzel to be offered in an affordable ownership model. Arrowfield’s John Messara puts this into context when he says:
“The Cox Plate, Golden Slipper, Tj Smith, Oakleigh Plate – these are races that owners dream about winning and Snitzel can make those dreams come true – his sons and daughters have already won them all”
Northern Thunder’s trainer Chris Munce likes what he sees in this Snitzel filly. He has ridden her from the moment she arrived at the stables and is daring to look towards another potential run in the Magic Millions to replicate that feeling of winning with Boomsara last year. Don’t believe us? Check out Northern Thunder’s first impressive jump out at Eagle Farm:
The winning name Northern Thunder, that was submitted by miRunners owner Shane Quinn, and moves further away from the generic merger of the sire and dam names, giving it that sense of individuality.
Shane first purchased into Gaelic Puzzle, and has since expanded his stable to include Bellarine Beauty, the Hinchinbrook x Gaze colt and now Northern Thunder! We asked Shane what the meaning behind the name suggestion Northern Thunder was and why he chose this name!
“I thought I would use the affiliation of the Mirunners and Racing Queensland relationship and horse bought for Queensland Horse Trainer Chris Munce as well as the thunderous noise of all the miRunners owners at the track roaring and cheering for her as she storms home down the winning straight hence the name Northern Thunder.”
miRunners allow members of the public to submit names, with the owners of the horse having the final vote in the racing name of the horse. We asked Shane how it felt having his name suggestion picked out of over 700 names suggested!
“It’s an amazing thrill to know the name I chose will be the one we will all be cheering for on Raceday. Makes it just that little bit more special for me now watching her race.”
Finally, we asked Shane how he is enjoying the miRunners experience so far and what has been his favourite part of this ownership experience for him.
“I find the miRunners experience one of the best decisions I’ve made. It brings so much enjoyment being taken on the journey of watching these horses grow as babies and then onto hitting the racetrack. It’s affordable, something I never thought I’d be able to afford. My favourite part has been the friendships I’ve made from meeting fellow owners who are sharing the same experience and journey of our horses.”
Congratulations Shane! We can’t wait to hear the name Northern Thunder at the race track soon, being cheered on by her hundreds of owners!
And the best part of this story is that there are still ownership units available in this filly, as she begins her journey towards the Magic Millions 2020! Units are available for just $330 + $15/month ($5 per month for any subsequent units purchased) – so jump on board today and experience the thrill of ownership as an owner of Northern Thunder!
