He ran one of his greatest races for 3rd in the Cup, but tragically it would be his last

Mummify was a thoroughbred warrior. The six-year-old, turned in one of the greatest performances of his illustrious career when 3rd in the 2005 Group One Caulfield Cup. Mummify led throughout and boosted up the pace on the turn as the challengers lined up. He was tough as teak and brave to the line, giving his all. Sadly though, vets were unable to save the son of Melbourne Cup winner, Jeune after he smashed both sesamoid bones in his near fore fetlock when pulling up in the big feature race.

In one of the most dramatic finishes in the running of the marquee race, Mummify was one of three contesting the finish with Japan's first Cup runner, Eye Popper and Sydney horse, Railings. Freedman defined Mummify as a remarkable equine athlete who captivated the racing community with his indomitable spirit and sustained excellence at the highest level.

During his career Mummify won nine race - five at Group One level - and earned over $5 million. He joined the likes of Sunline, Makybe Diva and Northerly in the top ten prizemoney earners in Australian racing history.

The Mummify narrative commenced in South Australia, and we owe our gratitude to Adelaide-based breeder Des Green for introducing one of the most exceptional racehorses to grace the turf. Green sold Mummify through the draft of Mill Park Stud for $41,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. His owners - 10 blokes who chucked in $4000 apiece to buy a horse. He was one of six horses purchased at the auction by Hall of Fame horseman Lee Freedman. Mummify was the result of a decision by Green to send his former smart racemare Cleopatra's Girl to Jeune, who at the time was standing at Lindsay Park Stud in South Australia.

Mummify justified his 9-2 favoritism in winning the 2003 Caulfield Cup, with jockey Dan Nikolic's electing to lead for the first time in 22 starts prompted by their inside gate. The gelding held off a late surge by Grey Song to Distinctly Secret a nose back in third and a neck ahead of Makybe Diva, an English-bred mare by Desert King. Mummify collected his third Group one success in the Cup, his first in the South Australian Derby in the May - the other in the Underwood Stakes. Unfortunately he was late scratched from the 2003 Melbourne Cup due to a raised temperature. He would run in the 2004 Cup won by a, now well established star, Makybe Diva, but finish a distant 19th. In 2005 Mummify took a while to get going, with a 3rd in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April, as Lee Freedman built to a bigger challenge.

In May a decision was made to take the horse to Kranji in Singapore for the $2.3 million Singapore International Cup (2000m). Despite loads of rain in the lead-up, the outstanding galloper won the race by three quarters of a length to Phoenix Reach, while Alexander Goldrun was third, a further two and three quarter lengths back. Defending champion Epalo led until the home turn, but weakened in the straight to finish eighth - ten and a half lengths adrift of the Aussie star in Singapore's only race that is rated as a Group 1. It was fitting that the five-year-old gelding should receive international acclaim almost two years to the day since his initial Group One win in the SA Derby at Morphettville. His final win would be in the Gr.3 Craven Plate in October 2005, only two weeks prior to his fateful Caulfield Cup tragedy.

Mummify finished his career with 9 wins and 17 placings from 48 starts; prize money in excess of $5 million, placing him in the top 20 prize money winners in Australian racing history at that moment in time; and an international rating of 118. Freedman ensured Mummify was standing up and facing east towards the sun, just like the great American Indian warrior horses from centuries past. The great grey sprinter Schillachi rests in a grave a few feet away. He recalls, "So I sat and had a beer on my own, When they buried him, we took our cans of beer up, Johnny said a few words, we had a bit of a blub and we reminisced about the horse. People think trainers are ruthless, multi-millionaires and all this rubbish. We all love the horses. That's why we do it."

RACE RECORD - 48: 9-8-9

EARNINGS - A$5,134,320

South Australian Derby (2003)

Caulfield Cup (2003)

Underwood Stakes (2003)

AJC Chairman's Handicap (2004)

Caulfield Stakes (2004)

Singapore Airlines International Cup (2005)

Craven Plate (2005)