Trainer Chris Munce will saddle up Miss Coota for the $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday … a race he won no less than three times as a jockey, saluting aboard Sunblazer (1989), Excellerator (2001) and Dance Hero (2004).
On top of that, Munce has also already found success at the Magic Millions Carnival when his charge Boomsara landed the $2 million Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Guineas in 2019 … so, it would be an understatement to say that the Gold Coast has been a very happy hunting ground for him.
Speaking after Boomsara’s hard fought victory, Munce was adamant about his feelings.
“There is no comparison, this is 100 percent better,” said Munce, comparing the feeling of training a winner of one of the Carnival’s biggest races, to riding one.
So, imagine the thrill Munce will experience if he can earn the distinction of training a Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic winner to add to his three-peat in the race as a jockey!
Enter Miss Coota … a daughter of Spirit Of Boom, who exploded on the racing scene by scoring two, successive runaway wins by a combined total of 12.70 lengths.
Those results, both with Justin Huxtable in the saddle, set up great expectations for the filly moving forward but, as is often the case in racing when you think you have all bases covered, a disappointment was to follow when Miss Coota performed well below par in her first start over the 1200m (the Magic Millions distance), only finishing fifth in the Group 3 Bruce McLachlan Stakes, this time with Craig Williams in the saddle.
Not the best away, Miss Coota raced just worse than midfield for the first half of the race, made some forward move approaching the home turn, ultimately cornered five before taking time to get balanced up again on straightening and was then, not unsurprisingly, never a factor in the home straight.
When questioned about Miss Coota’s performance, Craig Williams told stewards, ‘that he had no specific instructions from connections and, as there was speed drawn to his inside and also with the filly beginning slightly slowly, he elected to ride further back then midfield with cover. He added that the filly was inclined to hang out throughout the event and worked to the line well in the straight under the circumstances.’
This, after being up with the pace and then leading from the hallway mark in her debut run and leading virtually all of the way in her second start … and winning on both occasions.
The next day, Justin Huxtable was booked for the Magic Millions ride.
Just how much should be read into that disappointing run is difficult to assess given the drastic performance comparison to Miss Coota’s first two very positive race outcomes.
Chances are she should be given the benefit of the doubt.
We will only know more specifics when it is too late … after the running of the Two-year-Old Classic … but, if it should happen that, after the runners cross the line, you see a figure running, covering ground very quickly, jumping, darting and dodging his way in-between the crowd in excited fashion … which Chris Munce has been known to do with adrenaline-fuelled relish on more than one occasion … you will know then, for sure, that you could have drawn a line through Miss Coota’s last result.
And you won’t have to ask him again.
“There is no comparison, this is 100 percent better,” … remember!
Miss Coota, who also qualifies for the Magic Millions Woman’s racing Bonus, is currently quoted at $15 for the big race.
