Brave Monarch’s heart ready for Eagle test

By Glenn Davis

Co-trainer Corey Munce believes Queenslander Brave Monarch’s big heart won’t let him down in the $10 million Group 1 Golden Eagle at Randwick on Saturday.

Brave Monarch established himself as one of the state’s best three-year-olds during his Queensland winter campaign and is to be given his chance against some of the nation’s best horses in the Golden Eagle.

The four-year-old claimed both the Listed Daybreak Lover and the Group 2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm in the winter, which earned him a Sydney spring campaign.

A son of Brave Smash, Brave Monarch made a good fist of his first Sydney start for the training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce in the Listed Silver Eagle over 1300 metres at Randwick on October 17.

He was beaten less than four lengths when seventh to the Michael Freedman-trained Apocalyptic.

“He wasn’t beaten that far in his first Sydney start and it was a very good run,” Corey Munce said.

“His rider, Martin Harley, gave him an 11 out of 10 ride, but they were a little too sharp for him, although the winner did come from behind him.

“He’s stepping up in trip for the Golden Eagle and the extra distance will suit him.”

The Silver Eagle was the second start of Brave Monarch’s spring campaign following his eye-catching first-up third in the Listed Weetwood at Toowoomba last month.

“He’s not overly big, but he’s got a big heart and he tries his heart out and wears it on his sleeve,” Corey Munce said.

“He’s ticking all the boxes and came through his Silver Eagle run in good order and is fit and well.

“It’s a $10 million race, so he probably needs to improve a few lengths, but he won’t let us down.”

Corey Munce was unsure about Brave Monarch’s immediate future after the Golden Eagle.

“I’m not sure if there’s anything suitable in Sydney for him after the Golden Eagle, so he’ll probably come home for the summer,” he said.

“He’s not a Magic Millions horse, so he’d have to win a race with an automatic entry to get into a Magic Millions race.

“I think we’ll probably target The Gateway with him as the winner of that gets an automatic start in the Stradbroke next winter.

“But, he’s already a 100 rater, so he’ll probably only need to win another race somewhere to guarantee a start in the Stradbroke.”