Trainer Chris Munce expects three-year-old Wicked Intent to perform well enough in his Doomben return to earn a chance to perform on Australian racing’s biggest stage.
Provided he races well on Saturday, the horse will head to Sydney for the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes on October 3 ahead of a trip to Melbourne to take on the best sprinters of his age group in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on October 31.
Munce was not shocked when Wicked Intent was given 60kg for his comeback run in the Kangaroo Bus Lines Handicap (1050m).
“It is no use whingeing. He won a good race at Ipswich with 60 kilograms so I was expecting he would get something like that,” Munce said.
“The handicapper is always right so that is that. But I would be surprised if he doesn’t race well enough on Saturday to earn a trip south.”
The former champion jockey has a big opinion of Wicked Intent, a $16,000 buy who has won four races and more than $320,000.
“I have always had hopes that he would be the horse who could first help me have an interstate runner,” Munce said.
“It is a very tough race on Saturday but he will race well and confirm what I think about him.”
Munce offered the ride to Damian Browne, who won on the gelding at Ipswich, but Browne opted to stick with Hardline in Saturday’s race.
“That was Damian’s choice but I have got Glen Colless so that is a bonus. Glen is riding very well and he will not knock Wicked Intent about,” Munce said.
Munce has been gradually building his team in recent months after retiring as a jockey in January.
“We have had about 20 winners all-up and the horses have been consistent. But we have a way to go yet,” he said.
Munce also has bigger ambitions for promising stayer Perplexity who will contest the Give Back Campaign Plate (1630m) on Saturday after a sound return over 1350m at Doomben last month.
Competitive in stakes company during the winter carnival, Perplexity is being set for the summer staying races in Brisbane.