'Team Munce' hope for wet track for Payline

By Glenn Davis

It's been almost a year since Payline's last win but don’t be misled by the gelding's lack of success.

That's the warning from the father-and-son training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce ahead of the five-year-old's return in the Listed Magic Millions Falvelon at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 

Payline hasn’t won since saluting in the $1 million The Syndicate at the Sunshine Coast in January this year and it’s likely he’ll attempt to defend his crown again next month.

'Team Munce' also won The Syndicate with Centrefire in 2023.

Payline was a $120,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales and has gradually worked his way through the restricted ranks to the top with five wins and eight placings from 26 starts while taking his prizemoney earnings to $1.07 million.

Since his win in The Syndicate, Payline campaigned five times during the Queensland Racing Carnival during the winter before heading to Melbourne in the spring where he went winless in five frustrating starts.

During the winter, Payline showed his potential when placing in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 before running in two other features at the highest level in the Kingsford Smith and Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.

'Team Munce' made the call after the winter to press on to the Melbourne spring with Payline who was far from disgraced in his first two starts when fifth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes and sixth in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, with both at Moonee Valley.

He then dropped back a level finishing just behind the placegetters in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington and Group 3 Moonga Stakes at Caulfield.

“We experimented with him over 1400 metres during the winter and we thought his run in Stradbroke was very good,” co-trainer Corey Munce said.

“He never ran a bad race in Melbourne against the top horses in the country.

“He ran a great race to finish fifth first-up in the Moir and his sixth in the Manikato was probably his unluckiest run as he drew wide and got back and never got a chance to get on the right leg.”

Payline beefed up during his break but has had the benefit of a recent barrier trial win.

“He had a little break after Melbourne and he put on substantial weight in a short period of time,” Corey said.

“He’s had a barrier trial and went well and if we get a soft track, he’s a good chance in the Falvelon first-up.

“The 1200 metres is our main concern.”

Payline hasn’t started since finishing fifth to the Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie in November and is yet to win beyond 1110 metres.

“He may be a run or a trial short for the Falvelon unless we get a soft track and if we get a genuine 5 or 6 track it’ll bring him right into the race,” Corey said.

“He’ll probably run in The Syndicate next start and then go for the Snippets on Magic Millions day."