Munce confident with dual Magic Millions Classic charge
FORMER Champion jockey Chris Munce has had an incredible season with his juveniles and he heads to Saturday’s Magic Millions meeting full of confidence.
Munce sits second behind only the Hayes/Dabernig stable for juvenile winners this season and considering he purchased only a dozen horses from the yearling sales, his success rate is worth crowing about.
“I’ve only got 12 or 13 but we have got a couple of good ones and knew it from the beginning,” Munce said. “We only had a limited budget, so we had to be smart, but we have bought well and they have shown it from the start.”
The stable is headlined by unbeaten colt Ours To Keep and unbeaten filly Champ Elect, which have both impressed Munce in their two-year-old preparation.
“We took [Ours To Keep and Champ Elect] to Caloundra and jumped them out last July and they streeted the rest, so that was exciting,” Munce said.
“From the beginning my riders have said Ours To Keep is among the best horses they have ridden and he keeps doing it on the track.
“He just does what he has to do, whether it is working or racing, and he is one of those horses that can continue to lift.”
Ours To Keep is currently the third favourite at $8 with Sportsbet.com.au and Munce is just keeping the son of Seidnazar in fit order.
“He just feels like a natural and I just have to keep him ticking over this week,” Munce said.
Champ Elect hasn’t captured the attention of its stablemate which is currently $26 at Palmerbet.com.au, but Munce is confident it will produce a good effort.
“I was happy to keep Champ Elect fresh after her second win. She is a clean-winded filly and the 1200m will suit her,” Munce said.
“Don’t worry, she will run well.”
The current Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite is Houtzen at $3.60. The Toby Edmonds-trained runner scored another effortless win last Saturday and looks the toughest to beat.
“She’s great,” Edmonds said. “She pulled up super, has eaten up well, trotted up sound, she’s in good order. To be a realistic chance of winning she needed to win easily and she did that.
“To be truthful we never have gotten to the bottom of her.
“We’re not quite sure how much she has left, but hopefully it’s enough to run well on Saturday.”
Clark impressed with Waterhouse/Bott pair
Jockey Tim Clark will ride both Magic Millions runners for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and he doesn’t mind being the underdog.
It’s not often Gai Waterhouse doesn’t have the favourite for a Magic Millions feature, but the talented up-and-comer Invincible Star and Group one winner Global Glamour will give the stable and Clark a great winning chance.
“They are two great rides and usually being Gai’s you expect them to be favourites but they aren’t,” Clark said.
“I’m pretty confident that I’m on the right horses but I have to beat a star in Winning Rupert in the Guineas, but I am on a two-time Group one winner.”
Winning Rupert is the dominating favourite in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at $1.65 with WilliamHill.com.au, but the Bjorn Baker-trained runner hasn’t been tested against the likes of Global Glamour.
“Global Glamour is the sort of horse that is going to be suited at the 1400m but I need to be pretty close to Winning Rupert if we are going to beat him,” Clark said.
“She has been set for this race by Gai, so why wouldn’t I be happy to be on her.
“I watched her run at Eagle Farm and thought it was all right and she probably needed to have it to get the edge off her for the 1400m on Saturday.”
Clark secured the ride on Invincible Star after its impressive win at Flemington on debut and believes the barrier draw will be the most important aspect.
“It will be important to draw well for her but I think she is up with the others we have seen and Gai knows how to win this race,” Clark said.
Invincible Star is currently on the fourth line of betting at $8.50 with CrownBet.com.au.
Distance the only worry for Weir-trained stayer
Darren Weir lines up Stratum Star in the $1 million Gold Coast Stayers’ Cup on Saturday with the only cause for concern being the distance.
Weir is weary the last start Group 1 Kingston Town Classic winner won see out the 2200m distance as he initially thought the race was run over 2000m. Weir said his runner is going well enough and the prizemoney is worth the risk.
“He’s going well and it’s a $1 million race and he runs well in whatever you put him in,” Weir said.
“If it was 2000m I wouldn’t have a worry. At 2200m if he draws a barrier it won’t be a problem, but if he doesn’t it could be.
“He’s a bloody good horse. He’s won two Group one races and I think he’s been placed 15 times in Group races.”
Weir is hoping to continue his success from 2016 which resulted in Mahuta winning the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and Lucky Hussler winning the Magic Millions Cup.
Schofield full of praise for From Within
Jockey Glyn Schofield may have lost the ride on the Chris Waller-trained From Within for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic, but he hasn’t lost confidence.
Based on its debut performance, Schofield sees no reason as to why the Not A Single Doubt filly wouldn’t win the $2 million feature on Saturday.
“Only bad luck could get her beaten,” Schofield said.
“She’s very smart. As we know with Chris’ horses they always get better with racing and he’s not that prolific with two-year-olds, but to have one of her quality.
“I just think she’s going to be way too good.”
Hugh Bowman will take over the riding duties aboard the $4.60 (at CrownBet.com.au) chance and he only had positives to say after he rode the two-year-old in a gallop on Saturday morning.
“Religify is a genuine Saturday class horse and she came through with flying colours,” Bowman said. “She put a gap on him pretty quick and I kept a good hold of her.”