Wednesday, 15 December 2004: Gunsynd, the Goondiwindi Grey has been listed in the top 12 icons in Queensland history.
Gunsynd was the only animal listed in the announcement of the first 12 inductees into the Queensland Heritage Icons List from 163 nominations.
Hugh McMicking, son of Winks McMicking who purchased the horse from icon site, The Exhibition grounds, recalled the stories about how Winks went about buying the horse.
Winks had actually tried to purchase the full sister 12 months earlier and had regretted his decision to pull out of the bidding war for the sister.
There was no way he was going to fall into that trap a second time.
Gunsynd as he was to be known (Gun from Goondiwindi & synd from the syndicate that was about to be formed) was offered with a bad knock on one leg.
Expert advice told Winks that the lump would never worry him, but as cagey as Winks was, he sat there all day telling the many prospective buyers, “ I would have a good look at that leg before I purchased him,” and that was the end of the story.
Winks bought his dream horse for $1,300 and was heading back to Goondiwindi to syndicate him.
Winks was a regular at the Victoria Hotel, operated by the Late
George Pippos who became member number 1.
That night, two other prospective partners where realized when local newsagent, Bill Bishop and draper Java Coorey where to join the Big 4.
Gunsynd went on to be one of the greats of the turf and to this day, he is the only horse that won on every major track on the eastern seaboard.
From 55 starts, Gunsynd, won 29 races, 6 seconds & 6 thirds and amassed $280,455. In 1998, the races he won where reassessed at 1998 levels and the equivalent, a staggering $5.8 million.
“The town of Goondiwindi has certainly rode on the horses back for many years and with this award, the legend will roll on for ever,” Mayor Tom Sullivan said.
“The name Gunsynd is prominent anywhere you go in Australia, the world for that matter and we hope that this award will only lengthen the tradition. Many visitors come to the town just to remember the feats of this mighty horse”.
“Daily they arrive in cars to visit the statue situated on the MacIntyre River."
 | | Posted by Anonymous, on 24-5-2012 11:12:05 PM
He was great. I still have the record with his picture on it.
http://youtu.be/kEaEr1Ozq0M ”
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| | Posted by Anonymous, on 16-4-2012 7:32:49 PM
gunsynd was, and will, always remain, a truly great champion of the turf, to try and diminish this greatness, with comparisons to others of various eras, reflect not on the greatness of Gunsynd, but on the mentality of those individuals doing the comparing ”
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| | Posted by charles n, on 23-5-2011 7:19:32 AM
at what price did triton start when he beat gunsynd 1972 epsom hcp ”
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| | Posted by Craig, on 11-11-2010 5:10:02 PM
Ron Turcotte is correct, Gunsynd never raced Eye Liner. ”
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| | Posted by ron turcotte, on 12-8-2010 6:29:46 PM
Yes, Gunsynd''s last race he was beaten by Apollo Eleven. In fact he ran second to Apollo Eleven in the Chipping Norton (then over 2,000m), then Gunsynd won the Autumn Stakes (2,000m at randwick on doncaster day) then he ran second to him again in the Queen Elizabeth at his last start.
I can''t be 100% certain that Gunsynd never raced Eye liner, but I strongly doubt it. They were a different vintage. The only part of his career I can''t remember clearly was when he resumed as a spring 3yo in brisbane. He would have had one or two runs, but he was down in Sydney early enough in that campaign to win the Chelmsford. If he was beaten by Eye Liner it could only have been in those first couple of starts as a spring 3yo, but Eye Liner at that time would have been 8yo, and I think she was long retired by then. ”
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| | Posted by Bob S, on 1-9-2009 9:42:21 PM
In answer to Dave: Pretty sure the horse that beat Gunsynd in his farewell race was Apollo Eleven, who I seem to recall was a Kiwi. I have Ken Howard''s call somewhere on tape - have to try and dig it out. ”
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| | Posted by Dave, on 13-7-2009 7:44:22 AM
Who beat Gunsynd in his farewell race,1972 Queen Elizabeth stakes ?
Many Thanks ”
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| | Posted by rickyb, on 19-1-2009 8:57:23 PM
I have heard that Hugh McMicking borrowed 2''n''6 to put petrol in his car so he could get the horse home! ”
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| | Posted by Barry Millen, on 13-1-2009 8:00:51 AM
To settle a bet, is it true that Gunsynd in his early days as a galloper was beaten on a couple of occasions by fellow Queensland sprinter Eye Liner?
Thank you ”
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