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Racecourse Road on trial for Melbourne trip

20 September 2018

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By Glenn Davis

A trip to Melbourne will be considered for Racecourse Road if the talented three-year-old is successful at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

However, trainer Chris Munce is aware it won’t be an easy task for the son of Show A Heart who lines up in the Marcoola SLSC Nippers QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1000m).

Munce also saddles up former Sydneysider Smartypy in the Kirralee Barnard – Summer Surf Ambassador F&M Handicap (1200m).

Munce nominated but did not accept with his other smart three-year-old Saint Patricks Day who will be reserved for another day.

“Saint Patricks Day has been getting too much weight in races he’s eligible for and he’s not quite fit enough for open company races so I’ll have to find a more suitable race for him,” Munce said.,

Munce is confident of a strong performance from Racecourse Road who has started four times for a maiden win at Ipswich in March before resuming with a strong second to Spending My Time at the Sunshine Coast on September 1.

He struck trouble on both his other starts when unplaced in Stakes races during the Brisbane winter carnival.

Racecourse Road ran seventh in the Listed Dalrello Stakes behind Mishani Hustler and seventh in the G2 Champagne Classic won by the Chris Waller-trained Zousain.

“It’s another hard race for him but all QTIS races are,” Munce said.

“He ran good from a bad gate last start and has taken natural fitness from the run.

“If he happens to win impressively enough I might consider sending him to Melbourne.”

Munce predicts a bright future for Smartypy following the mare’s two unbeaten runs in Queensland.

Smartypy was formerly trained by Bjorn Baker in Sydney but was still a maiden when she headed north.

The daughter of Smart Missile made an impressive start to her career with Munce easily winning her maiden at the Gold Coast on August 22 before another dominant victory in a Benchmark race at Ipswich two weeks later.

“She’s only had two starts for me and won impressively both times,” Munce said.  

“She’s improved a lot since she’s been with me and she looks to have a bright future here.

“Unfortunately, she’s got a bad gate on Saturday bit at least it’s Caloundra.

“If it was at Doomben she’d have no chance but I’m expecting her to race well.”

Munce said Smartypy had been in work a long time but she was holding her condition well.

Racing Queensland webnews  September 20