Since taking over the training duties of five-year-old mare Gerringong, Chris and Corey Munce have seen her perform remarkably well, with further Sydney riches now on the horizon this Saturday.
The daughter of Blue Point marked her return with a strong victory in the Group 3 The Nivision over 1200m and is now set to compete for a Group 2 title in The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick.
The father-son training duo managed Gerringong over the Winter after her transfer from Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott. During this period, she secured placings in the Dane Ripper Stakes and the Tattersall’s Tiara, the latter being a Group One event. Chris Munce is optimistic about her chances.
“She’s doing really well,” Munce said.
“It was good to see her get that win first up and she seems to have come through it really well.”
The Invitation features a $2 million prize pool, with the winner receiving $1 million. Munce believes the step up to 1400 metres on Saturday will be beneficial for Gerringong.
“She ran good over the 1,400 metres in the Group One over the winter, so no reason why she won’t do it again,” Munce commented.
“I suppose Saturday will determine how she measures up and where she goes and what she does.
“We’ll get over Saturday and assess her after that.”
In the five years since The Invitation’s inception, four of the winners were either Group One winners at the time or went on to achieve Group One success. This year’s full field of 12 mares includes Idle Flyer and Lazzura, both Group One winners, who are assigned the joint topweight of 59kg under the set weight and penalty conditions.
Despite the quality of the competition, Munce is confident Gerringong will measure up based on her recent form since joining their stable, stating she’ll be “very hard to beat.”
Lazzura is the clear favourite for The Invitation at $2.35, with Verona Rose at $4.80. These two mares finished in the exacta in the Golden Pendant last start, with Gerringong rated at $6.50.
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