After a short settling in period result-wise, the Chris and Corey Munce training partnership has put two winners on the board in the last four days to get their first official season winner’s count underway.
Team Munce’s first win came at Doomben on Saturday, courtesy of a supreme performance by the lightly raced Kahlisee who, in the very capable hands of Samantha Collett, smashed her opposition into submission in a QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Handicap over 1100m … a result which gave obvious pleasure to the two co-trainers.
“Yeah, it was a special win,” said Chris Munce, acknowledging the context of the result, before quickly putting the spotlight on his son Corey and the various attributes he brings to the new role he has taken on at the stable.
“Corey’s done a lot of work to get here. He started from the ground and worked his way up. He didn’t get a free ride at all along the way. He was picking up shit, and that, early days,” continued Munce.
“Corey has built up a good knowledge of the horse … and he has got a good, placid nature which is what you need. That’s probably good for me. He is a calming influence on me because he doesn’t get flustered when I do … and that helps me.”
But don’t mistake that calmness on Corey’s part for any lack of fire in the belly.
“Dad and I work very well together and it’s great for me to be helping out my family, but I also really love what I do, and I think I bring positive motivation. I have got a high drive to succeed. I just want to win,” said Corey Munce, speaking when the partnership was announced at the start of the season.
And win again they did at Gatton on Tuesday when Hermanita saluted in a BM58 Handicap under Cejay Graham to make it two wins in four days, this one coming in the highly recognisable stable silks of Royal Blue with White Southern Cross stars.
Doubtless there will be more to come as the team tries to chase down the total of thirty-four metropolitan winners Chris Munce set last season, the highest total the stable has achieved to date.
