How would you like to race a horse with an NBA Hall of Famer?
Chris Munce Racing is offering that chance after Tony Parker bought two fillies with them at the Inglis Classic Sale this week.
Parker, who’s a four time NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs, races mainly in France but has extended his operation to Australia this year.
His racing team is called Infinity Nine in France. He has already owned part of the 2022 French 1000 Guineas winner Mangoustine, trained by Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mikel Delzangles.
He has a small, select team around him, including French bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau, who has worked with Munce for the past four years.
It gave Parker the chance to get into a Jacquinot filly at $100,000 and a Portland Sky filly for $110,000 that Hoyeau selected from the Classic Sale.
“Tony loves his racing, and he really liked the Australian model of syndication,” Hoyeau said.
“When I asked him if he would like to get a couple of horses out in Australia, he wanted to do it straight away.”
“The two fillies we bought will hopefully race in his colours of Infinity Nine, but they will be available to everyone.”
“One will be a ladies’ syndicate, and the other will be open to everyone.”
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Parker has shared his racing experience in the documentary The Big Bet in France and wanted to join a syndicate.
“Tony likes to have small shares and enjoy others’ company when he races,” Hoyeau said.
“If the horses were to turn out to be in a good race, I’m sure he would get on a plane and come out to watch them race.”
Part of Munce’s rise has been linking with Hoyeau four years ago, and he is happy to welcome Parker to the team.
“I didn’t have time to look at all the horses at sales and asked Vin Cox for help to find someone and he recommended Arthur,” Munce said.
“He draws up a list for us, and then we look at those and pick out the ones we want.”
“When he said Tony Parker might come into a horse, I thought that would be great, but I didn’t think it would happen this quick.”
In the week when Parker comes on board, Munce experienced one of the lows of racing with JJ Atkins winner Cool Archie retired because injury.
“He is going on to another career, and hopefully we can have some of his horses in years to come,” Munce said. “He was a fantastic colt, and I don’t think we saw the best of him.”
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