CLEOPATRA - WHAT A TERRIFIC MUMMY

Earlier this year, Eliza Park purchased the At Talaq mare, Cleopatra’s Girl, who produced a lovely Henny Hughes foal in September and has subsequently been covered by Group One winning sprinter Magnus.
Last Thursday (19 November), the Clinton McDonald trained Shabtis – Cleopatra’s Girl’s fifth foal – won her maiden at Seymour after three previous placings from as many starts.
However, as Tara Madgwick, points out, Shabtis will have to live in the shadow of her big (half) brother – Mummify (below) – for a little while yet.

Shabtis, named for the ancient Egyptian figurines in keeping with her dam’s name Cleopatra’s Girl, has a bit to do to live up to the standard set by Mummify, a son of Melbourne Cup winner Jeune (GB).
A very popular member of the Lee Freedman stable, Mummify won nine races and $5.1 million with career highlight wins in the Group One Caulfield Cup, Underwood Stakes, Yalumba Stakes and SAJC Derby as a 3YO, with an international success in the Group One Singapore International Cup thrown in for good measure.
Despite all those memorable wins, the thing most people remember about Mummify was his last start when he carried 57kgs from barrier 17 and led all the way in the 2005 Caulfield Cup before going down by a short neck and a short neck behind Railings and Eye Popper.
Just after the post, Mummify snapped a leg and despite the best veterinary efforts to save him was euthanized the next day ending a glorious career in tragic circumstances.
Mummify held a special place in the heart of his trainer, who offered the following quotes at the time. “Australians love sportspeople like him,” Freedman said. “He didn’t have all the charisma of a Makybe Diva but he had nearly as much ability.
“He was very determined, he ran all his best races from the front carrying big weights, he never did it easy.”
Mummify is buried next to another of Freedman’s greats in Schillaci.