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Munce's Group 1 dream ramps up at Hollindale Stakes meeting

2 May 2019

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By Glenn Davis

Chris Munce will take another step towards his dream of training his first Group 1 winner when talented three-year-old’s Boomsara and Ceol Na Mara run at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Boomsara, winner of the Magic Millions Guineas in January, resumes in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) enroute to his Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap mission.

Talented filly Ceol Na Mara continues her Group 1 Queensland Oaks campaign in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m).

Munce retired from race riding after the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast in 2015 following an illustrious career in the saddle.

Munce is one of only seven jockeys to have won Australia’s big four - the Melbourne Cup on Jezabeel, the Cox Plate on Savabeel, the Caulfield Cup on Descarado and two Golden Slippers on Dance Hero and Prowl.

His career included 43 Group One wins, five Brisbane jockeys' premierships, and more than 2,500 winners overall.

Boomsara hasn’t raced since giving Munce his biggest win as a trainer in the Magic Millions Guineas and is well forward for his return.

“He’s coming along well and has been in work a while,” Munce said.

“He’s had a couple of jump outs and should race well but it’s a very hard race when you are up against Zoustyle and Zousain.

“I think Chris Waller’s Zousain is the one to beat. He’s a very good horse.”

Zousain is the highest rater in the Gold Coast Guineas after being placed three times at the highest level in last year’s J J Atkins at Doomben, Golden Rose at Rosehill and Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.

The son of Zoustar hasn’t raced since failing in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March but has won two recent barriers at Randwick ahead of his winter campaign.

Munce is hoping Ceol Na Mara can progress to the Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on June 1.

Munce holds the record for winning the most Queensland Oaks as a jockey aboard Giovana (2000), Zagalia (2003), Vouvray (2004) and Miss Keepsake (2010).

Munce will add his name to the history books if Ceol Na Mara goes on to win the Queensland Oaks by becoming the first person to ride and train a Queensland Oaks winner.

Ceol Na Mara showed she was on the right path for the Queensland Oaks when third to Baccarat Baby in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast last month.

Racing Queensland webnews   May 2