Champion jockey Chris Munce will make his long-awaited comeback to riding at Eagle Farm next Wednesday.
In December last year Munce was diagnosed with throat cancer and began radiation treatment in early January which ruled him out of the Magic Millions carnival.
After completing his cancer treatment on February 25, Munce began the slow build-up for a return to racing when he rode in an 850 metre jump-out at Eagle Farm last Tuesday.
Writing on his blog, Munce said his recovery was progressing well enough to enable him to make his comeback next Wednesday.
“I am feeling a lot better and really looking forward to getting back to race riding and being back in the jockeys’ room with the lads,” Munce said.
“The last week has been good. I’ve kept on improving and riding a few horses in track work, although I have pulled up a bit sore in the legs on occasions.”
Munce is one of a select band of jockeys to have ridden the winners of Australian racing’s Group One Grand Slam – the Melbourne Cup (Jezabeel), Cox Plate (Savabeel), Caulfield Cup (Descarado) and Golden Slipper (Prowl, Dance Hero).
Last year Munce rode a record breaking 103 winners in Brisbane for the 2011-12 season, breaking the previous mark set by Mick Dittman who rode 97-1/2 winners in 1979-80.
Despite not having ridden since the Goldmarket meeting at the Gold Coast on New Year’s Day, Munce remains in fourth place on this year’s premiership with 34 winners behind Michael Cahill who has won 60 races.
