Chris Munce confident Payline can produce Kingsford Smith Cup upset after enormous Doomben 10,000 run came as no surprise

Following a near-upset in the Doomben 10,000, trainer Chris Munce is bullish Payline will be a big threat again in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup.

Payline has emerged as a Group 1 contender. Picture: Trackside Photography

Payline’s enormous run in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 surprised many punters and bookmakers but not jockey Justin Huxtable and trainers Chris and Corey Munce.

The four-year-old gelding jumped as a $51 chance in the 1200m race but went agonisingly close to upsetting now three-time Group 1 champion Sunshine In Paris.

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Chris Munce said he felt supremely confident heading into the $1.5m sprint after hearing Huxtable’s assessment of Payline in his previous run, a ninth placing in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

“We were very confident,” Munce said about a thrilling Doomben 10,000 when Sunshine In Paris, with James McDonald on board, held off fast-finishing pair Rothfire and Payline.

“Justin actually said to me in the start before, ‘he’ll be hard to beat in the 10,000’.

“He had no luck (in the Victory Stakes), he had a s--t draw and had to get back further than what we wanted but he was getting home better than anything in the race.

“Justin was quite excited and bullish that he could win the 10,000 and he was a nose off being right.”

• Waller gives hobby trainer reason to believe in Stradbroke fairytale

Payline will head into the rescheduled Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) on Saturday as a $19 chance before backing up in the $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) just seven days later.

The Chris Waller-trained mare Joliestar is the $2.90 favourite ahead of Giga Kick ($4.60), Benedetta ($7.50) and Bosustow ($7.50).

It took Payline seven races before he broke his maiden status, in May last year on the Sunshine Coast, but since then he’s had five wins and racked up almost $1m in prizemoney.

Too good J-Mac! He lifts Sunshine In Paris to victory in the Doomben 10,000 💪 @[e-mail]/DJaWJwBHJI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025

“He’s always shown us a lot as far as ability goes,” said Munce, who trains alongside his son Corey.

“He’s pretty straightforward but he does have a few quirks. He’s a bit of an insecure horse, that’s probably the best way to describe him.

“Just little things upset him, like if there’s a change in environment or his surroundings then he gets himself a bit worked up.

“But once he gets comfortable and he’s confident in his routine then he’ll do anything for you.”

• Stradbroke hopes ‘slimmer by the day’ for Rothfire

Munce has viewed the Doomben 10,000 as a good formguide to the Stradbroke Handicap since his first Group 1 victory as a jockey in the race (then 1350m) in 1992 when he defeated Rough Habit, who turned the tables next start in the Straddie.

Meanwhile, connections of Group 1 winner Benedetta are still weighing up whether to shoot for the Kingsford Smith Cup or the Stradbroke Handicap.

Corey (left) and Chris Munce are eyeing Group 1 glory in the Kingsford Smith Cup. Picture: Trackside Photography

Warren said a decision would likely be made on Thursday after discussions with the classy mare’s managing owner Laurence Eales.

“At this stage we’re aiming to run this Saturday although we have booked Tommy Berry to ride (in the Stradbroke) in case we decide to wait,” the Victorian trainer said on Wednesday about last year’s The Goodwood champion.

“We’re closely looking at the weather for next week and weighing up if we should bypass this Group 1 (Kingsford Smith) for the Stradbroke.

“She’s done all her work, she had a gallop on the course proper at Deagon on Tuesday and we’re really happy with her but we’re yet to decide.

“She’s got 53.5kg in the Stradbroke which is a beautiful weight for her.

“Tommy Berry will have to lose a kilo to ride her but he’s up for it.”

If Benedetta does skip the Stradbroke, she will be then targeted at the $700,000 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara, a race restricted to fillies and mares, at Eagle Farm on June 28.

Originally published as Chris Munce confident Payline can produce Kingsford Smith Cup upset after enormous Doomben 10,000 run came as no surprise