Munce aiming for feature double with Stampe and Palaisipan
Brisbane trainer Chris Munce will be hoping that his winning run can continue this weekend as he saddles up Stampe in the Rockhampton Newmarket on Friday and unbeaten filly Palaisipan in the Group 3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
The jockey-turned-trainer has already enjoyed some success this week, winning with Smart Meteor at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
“He went good,” Munce told horsebetting.com.au.
“He’s been in work a long time; I think we worked out he was seven days off being in the stable for 365 days, so it’s a long time, but I mean he’s just one of those little horses that enjoys stable life and being looked after.”
On Friday, Munce will leg up Justin Huxtable on his consistent four-year-old gelding Stampe in the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket (1300m), where the son of Whittington is a $6 chance.
Coming off an unlucky fifth in the Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm on June 5th, the six-time winner will relish dropping in grade to Open Quality and only has to carry 57.5kg.
“He’s going good,” Munce said.
“He’s had no luck all winter, with barriers and what not, but he’s a bloody good galloper and I think up here – I know he’s been in work a little while – but he seems to be holding his form and doing everything right.
Drawn in barrier four, Munce is hopeful that Huxtable can have Stampe in the right position to salute.
“He’s gonna get the right run; he’s going to be travelling just in behind the speed and get the right sort of run,” he said.
“He’s drawn good. Justin knows him well and rides him well.
“I think he’s certainly a good chance in the race for sure.”
After rain washed out the Sunshine Coast’s Caloundra Cup meeting last Saturday, Munce will now saddle up his star filly Palaisipan in the Winx Guineas (1600m) this Sunday.
The three-year-old daughter by So You Think has won all four of her races in good style, albeit by small margins, and is set to start as race favourite in the $175,000 feature after winning the T.L. Cooney 3YO Classic at Ipswich three weekends ago.
Palaisipan will have to do a bit of work early from barrier 16, but Munce is confident that her will to win will see her right in the finish again on a track that can be very forgiving.
“Well she’s flying,” he said.
“She’s another one who has been in work for quite a while, but she’s just a very tough filly.
“She seems to handle her work well and stable life well and seems to enjoy it.
“The good thing about Caloundra is that it has the big long straight, got a good long straight down the back and they’ve got a bit of time, Justin doesn’t have to rush to find a spot, he’s got plenty of time to work out where he wants to be.
“That’s the one good thing about Caloundra.”
While the filly is unbeaten, all four of her wins have been on a Good 4 surface, so she will be racing in uncharted waters on Sunday if the track remains in the Heavy range.
Palaisipan is bred to handle the conditions, however, and Munce is confident the track should dry up a bit which will suit her.
“I think she will (handle the wet conditions),” he said.
“They’re predicting the track to be a lot better than that, I was talking to David Vandyke yesterday and he thought the track would be okay.
“We’ve just got to let today unfold and we’ll see what happens in the next 48 hours to see if it dries out or how it ends up.”
The Group 3 Winx Guineas is set to jump at 4:19pm on Sunday afternoon.