Chris Munce chasing 50 winners
Chris Munce is hoping speedster Snoopy can break through for his first stakes win and help the trainer close in on 50 winners in a season for the first time.
The former jockey took up training in January 2015 and has already trained more than 150 winners, 48 in 2017/18.
He has runners at the Sunshine Coast and Gatton this weekend with Snoopy leading the way in the Listed Queensland Lightning (1000m) on Saturday.
Formerly trained by Hawkes Racing, Snoopy comes off a first-up second to Guard of Honour in the Bat Out Of Hell at the Gold Coast on May 5.
The run marked the second feature race placing in four starts for Snoopy since joining Munce following his close third in the Group Three George Moore Stake at Doomben in December.
“Snoopy has been kept fresh purely for these sprint races as I think he is much better over these shorter trips,” Munce said.
“We know that he will hot the line very strongly and the wet track certainly won’t hurt him either.”
Snoopy drops to 57kg on Saturday and will be ridden by Damian Browne.
“He’s drawn a bit awkward but hopefully with good navigation from Damian he will find a good spot behind the pace,” Munce said.
Snoopy is raced by Neil Werrett and Max Whitby who have been great supporters of Munce since he took up training.
Munce will also have Pony Power in the Listed Oxlade Handicap (1200m) for two-year-olds at the Sunshine Coast.
He said Pony Power had raced well in blinkers when a last-start second and they would stay on.