Trainer Chris Munce has added another significant chapter to the Ipswich Cup’s storied history, this time sharing the victory with his son, Corey.
Munce’s own jockeying career saw him win the Listed staying feature aboard Oompala in 1994, a horse that later finished third in the Melbourne Cup.
His training prowess was first showcased in the Ipswich Cup with Smart Meteor in 2022, and Kaluakoi continued this winning legacy on Saturday.
Reflecting on his achievements, Munce said, “Oompala was a very good galloper. He won the Caloundra Cup, got beaten in the Grafton Cup, then went and ran third in the Melbourne Cup. To be able to ride a winner and now train two, one with Corey, it’s a great thrill.”
Munce admitted that Kaluakoi’s lack of a recent middle-distance run this preparation was a point of concern leading up to Saturday’s event.
However, any such worries were quickly allayed once the race commenced.
Munce shared his immediate thoughts with Corey after the first lap: “I said to Corey when he got past the winning post that he was going to be hard to beat because he pricked his ears down the hill and relaxed lovely. He’s got no real turn of foot, but he’s a tough galloper.”
The $4.60 favourite, Kaluakoi, set the pace throughout and responded gamely for apprentice Emily Lang to secure a three-quarters of a length win over Encoder ($4.80). Sun Worshipper ($21) took third place.
Lang, notching her fifth stakes victory, confirmed she followed Chris Munce’s directive to be proactive from the start.
She explained the trainer’s instructions: “He did say to me on Thursday at the trials that he didn’t want (the horse) to be ridden pretty. The last four or so weeks have been really tough. I obviously don’t have a claim anymore, and with all the Sydney and Melbourne jockeys coming up, my manager has had to do a really tough job of getting me rides. When I get the opportunity from a stable like Chris and Corey Munce, it makes all the difference and it’s good to get the job done.”
In the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m), Michael Freedman’s Soothsayer, piloted by Daniel Moor, triumphed despite a challenging draw.
Lee Freedman, who manages his brother’s Gold Coast stable, expressed his surprise at the six-year-old’s rapid improvement this season, suggesting he might develop into a capable miler next year.
“I’m a bit flabbergaster to be honest because he’s gone from a benchmark 85 to a Group Three. He may have come back this ‘prep’ better than ever. I always thought he’d be a good horse for a race like the Epsom (Handicap), so that may be the race you see him in,” Lee Freedman stated.
Explore the latest racing betting markets for upcoming feature races.
