Penny yet to drop with Star Of Jamaica

By Glenn Davis

Promising colt Star Of Jamaica will strive to prove he’s the real deal when the youngster heads to the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Randwick on Saturday.

A raw Star Of Jamaica displayed all the qualities for a bright future by booking his interstate trip with an explosive win over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast last month.

Although it was only against maiden opposition, it was the way in which the son of Profiteer put paid to his rivals which impressed the father-and-son training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce.

“He was too relaxed until Ryan (Maloney) changed the whip to his left hand,” co-trainer Corey Munce said. 

“I wasn’t too confident at the 200 metre mark until that happened and he we won impressively.”

The Munce stable has booked star rider Zac Lloyd.

Corey Munce believes the penny hasn’t dropped with Star Of Jamaica, who was an $85,000 buy as a yearling at the Sydney Inglis sales.

“He’s taken a lot of benefit from his win, but the penny still hasn’t dropped with him which is the exciting thing about him,” Corey Munce said.

“He’s still a colt but he’s well behaved and very manageable around the stables.”

The Munce team will be guided by Star Of Jamaica’s performance in Sydney before deciding his immediate future after the Inglis Millennium. 

“He’s very sound and we’ll assess him after the Millennium where we go next with him," Corey Munce said.

“The winter carnival isn’t far away but he might even go to Melbourne for the spring yet - we’ll just have to wait and see after he runs.”

Corey Munce was reluctant to compare Star Of Jamaica with the stable’s Group 1 J.J. Atkins champion Cool Archie and wouldn’t rule out the opportunity of chasing back-to-back wins with him in the Eagle Farm feature.

“They’re two completely different types of horses,” Corey Munce said.

“Star Of Jamaica is more a 1200 to 1400 metre horse at this stage and is a lot sharper than Cool Archie who has won over the 1600 metres.

“In saying that, there’s every chance Star Of Jamaica will run a mile.

“Star Of Jamaica grew significantly after his first campaign and who knows what he’ll be like after this campaign.

“I’ve got no doubt he’ll improve a lot more after he returns from this race.”