When it comes to winning major two-year-old races, champion jockey Chris Munce is peerless.
His record of two Golden Slippers and three Magic Millions is proof that he thrives on the helter-skelter pressure that comes with winning million-dollar juvenile events.
And as he takes aim at his fourth win in the $2 million Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday aboard second favourite Sizzling, Munce is doing what he does best and thriving on the pressure.
“I’ve got a bit of an idea how the race will be run. I’ll just let the race unfold and follow my instincts,” Munce said.
“He’ll race very well. He certainly hasn’t gone backwards since his run the other day and I am very happy to ride him.”
Munce won the Golden Slipper on Prowl for Clarry Connors in 1998 and backed up in 2004 aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Dance Hero, the first horse to complete the Magic Millions-Slipper double.
His other Magic Millions winners were Excellerator in 2001 and Sunblazer in 1989.
Munce rates Dance Hero the best two-year-old he has ridden and while he doesn’t put Sizzling in the same class just yet, he does believe the Kelso Wood-trained colt has the potential to be a future star.
“He’s on his way. He’s shown as much natural ability as those horses, he’s got to get there yet,” Munce said.
“He’s a very laid-back horse and very professional. The pressure and atmosphere on the day won’t bring him undone.
“I’d be surprised if he didn’t parade as good as any other horse on the day.”
Sizzling has been the victim of horror barriers when runner-up at his past two starts but the racing gods shone on the Snitzel colt this week and Munce is delighted to be drawn in gate six.
“There will be plenty of pressure on up front as there always is and I will let him tell me where he wants to be,” Munce said.
“I’d love to be in the first six or seven but I don’t think that will be the case and I won’t be worried if he gets back a bit.
“He’s shown he can really find the line at his past two runs and he will finish the race off hard.”
AAP TURF
