Star Of Jamaica out to break Skyline Stakes drought

By Glenn Davis

Queensland's father-and-son training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce are hopeful Star Of Jamaica can smash a long drought for their home state in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The last Queensland runner to win the Skyline Stakes in Sydney was Dr. Zackary in 1994 before the youngster went on to finish 10th to Danzero in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill that year.

The Skyline Stakes was then a Group 3 race and was run at Canterbury.

The Munce stable believe Star Of Jamaica is spot on for his second Sydney assignment as he bids for a start in the $5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill next month.

Co-trainer Corey Munce was rapt with Star Of Jamaica’s last start effort when a brave fourth to the Chris Waller-trained Fireball in the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Randwick on February 7.

The son of Profiteer loomed up as a major threat halfway down the straight before being swamped late to go down by just over one length.

“They ran quick time and after analysing the race closely, I was very pleased with his run,” Corey Munce said.

“He needs to win to get into the Golden Slipper, but he’s been working very well and he put on 10kgs in a week after his last run.

“Zac Lloyd is riding him again and it’s good to see when jockeys want to stay with a horse.”

The Munce stable nominated Star Of Jamaica for the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday but decided to bypass the feature in favour of the Skyline Stakes.

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

Corey Munce thinks he’ll be a better three-year-old next season.

“I think he’s going to be an even better three-year-old next season,” he said.

“This is another test for him in the Skyline and if he doesn’t win, we have him nominated for the Sires Produce Stakes.”

If Star Of Jamaica books his ticket for the Golden Slipper, Team Munce will be vying to become only the third Queensland trainers to win the world’s richest two-year-old race.

Queensland has won two Golden Slippers with the Bruce Brown-trained Calaway Gal in 2002 while Phelan Ready won in 2009.

The late Bruce McLachlan and his son Jason became the first of the training partnership era to win a Golden Slipper with Phelan Ready.

However, only five horses have claimed the Skyline and Golden Slipper double.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Dance Hero won the 2004 edition when ridden by Chris Munce after Prowl (1998), Guineas (1997), Star Watch (1988) and Sir Dapper in 1983.