Munnings’ success at stud comes as something as a surprise. Standing at Ashford/Coolmore America with all the superstars, such as Uncle Mo, American Pharoah, Justify and others, and at a $20,000 stud fee this year, his offspring have made him a proud papa.

Yesterday, April 7, his daughter Fancy Dress Party took the Beaumont S.-G3 wire to wire at Keeneland, in serious slop and pouring rain, keeping her race record a perfect four-for-four. She beat Baffert’s ship-in favorite, Mother Mother, holding the latter off in the final steps of the race with grit and determination. As well, Fancy Dress Party is a beautiful filly, chestnut like her dad with a dishy, blaze face, justifying her $280,000 yearling price.

While at Ashford several years ago to look at stallions, when Munnings had just retired, the staff insisted on bringing Munnings out for a view. I was blown away. Not a very big horse, Munnings is a very muscular, well made, masculine, handsome horse with tons of bone—he looked like a body builder. I recommended him to clients after this, and he has not disappointed.

His best runner, the stellar filly I’m a Chatterbox, from his first crop, was a multiple grade one winner and multi-millionaire, and others have picked up the mantle since, including Fancy Dress Party’s full brother, Will Munnings, whom she has already transcended by winning this graded stake race and earning $222,405.

Munnings has demonstrated success with mares who offer inbreeding to both Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector, which Fancy Dress Party’s dam, The Schvagen, does indeed provide, through Dayjur. The Schvagen is by Matty G., a grandson of Seattle Slew through his huge, handsome son Capote, providing the size that suits Munnings, while also providing big doses of Nasrullah and Mahmoud, complementing Munnings’ Holy Bull dam, La Comete, as well as his two doses of Secretariat by adding another tail female dose of Princequillo. Munnings has produced four foals out of Matty G. mares, and all of them have started, all of them have won, with two black type winners, Fancy Dress Party and her brother. Stats like this must be recognized.

Sometimes, seeing is believing. Fancy Dress Party’s beauty and ability make her a chip off the old block, and add to Munnings’ quiet ascension to the ranks of important stallions.

-- Roberta Smoodin