Walsh Bay limbers up for Mooloolaba Cup

By Glenn Davis

Exciting mare Walsh Bay will be out to prove she’s the real deal in the Mooloolaba Cup at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Walsh Bay produced a slashing win for the father-and-son training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce last start when stepping up in distance to 2400 metres for the first time in the Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.

A four-year-old daughter of Deep Field, Walsh Bay underlined her potential earlier with a dominant three length win at her previous start in the 2000 metre Toowoomba Cup in September.

The Queensland Cup win was her fifth in succession and her eighth overall in a career spanning only 15 starts.

Co-trainer Corey Munce is hopeful Walsh Bay can continue her impressive picket fence of wins.

However, he concedes it will take a huge performance for Walsh Bay to continue her winning streak when dropping back sharply in trip.

“She went out for a short break after her Queensland Cup win and she’s fit enough and well enough to be competitive,” Corey said.

“A first-up win won’t surprise me as her best performances have been between 1600 to 2000 metres and this looks a nice race for her.”

'Team Munce' is targeting the Shoot Out over 2100 metres on January 3 with Walsh Bay.

“We’ve got two targets for her, the Shoot Out and the Magic Millions Subzero but we’ve got to get past the Shoot Out first,” Corey said.

“She was bought from the breeze up sales at the Gold Coast but unfortunately, she wasn’t paid up for the Magic Millions.

“So, to get into the Subzero, she’ll have to win the Shoot Out which carries an automatic entry into the Subzero for the winner.”

The stable paid $85,000 for Walsh Bay and she’s already returned part-owner Peter McGauran more than $378,000 in prizemoney.

McGauran was a former chairman of the Australian Turf Club and a former Minister for Agriculture in the Howard Government.

While Walsh Bay hasn’t raced for five weeks, she has taken benefit from a recent barrier trial at the Sunshine Coast.

“She had a trial at Caloundra last week chasing genuine 1000 metre horses,” Corey said.

“She was never going to be competitive and was well beaten in the trial, but she’s taken a lot of benefit from it.”

If Walsh Bay makes it to the Magic Millions, 'Team Munce' plan to spell her before deciding her winter carnival goals.