Jockey Chris Munce set to retire and become horse trainer after Magic Millions

CHAMPION jockey Chris Munce will retire from race riding to become a horse trainer after this Saturday’s Magic Millions race day on the Gold Coast.

Horse racing on the Gold Coast. Jockey Chris Munce. Pic Jono Searle.

CHAMPION jockey Chris Munce will retire from race riding to become a horse trainer after this Saturday’s Magic Millions race day on the Gold Coast.

Munce broke the news at Doomben racecourse just after 10am today.

The 45-year-old, who won the 1998 Melbourne Cup aboard Jezabeel and boasts a long list of Group 1 winners, will bid for his fourth win in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic aboard favourite Wicked Intent this weekend.

The two-year-old colt is trained by Munce’s father-in-law Barry Mitchell.

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After chalking up more than 300 wins as an apprentice, Munce went on to win almost every major race in Australia, including the Melbourne Cup (Jezabeel), Cox Plate (Savabeel), two Golden Slippers (Prowl, Dance Hero), Caulfield Cup (Descarado) and two Stradbroke Handicaps on home turf (Landsighting, Dane Ripper).

He is one of only seven jockeys to claim Australian Racing’s Grand Slam – the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper and Caulfield Cup.

Racing Queensland chief executive Darren Condon paid tribute to Munce’s career in the saddle and attributed him with paving the way for the current crop of young Queensland jockeys putting the Sunshine State on the national map.

“There are very few jockeys who have ridden as consistently as Chris for such a long period of time,” Condon said.

“I have known Chris since he was an apprentice and right from the outset it was obvious he would be successful given the dedication and commitment he was showing even back then.

“As Queenslanders, we are privileged to have witnessed so many highlights during Chris’s career in our own backyard and we are pleased that he we will not be lost to the industry as he pursues a career as a trainer.

“Any young apprentice coming through the ranks can take a leaf out of Chris’s book, particularly the commitment he has shown for his craft and to the sport of racing. We wish him well in his future endeavours and congratulate him on what has been a truly wonderful career.”

Munce will hand in his jockey’s licence following his last ride at the Gold Coast on Saturday before embarking on a career as a trainer.

No doubt it will be an emotional win if Munce can salute on Wicked Intent this Saturday.

Chris Munce Career Statistics:

· In 2011-2012 season Chris made history by becoming the first rider to ride 100 Brisbane metropolitan winners in a season. He achieved the feat on Belltone, in the Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast.

· His 102 wins for the season broke Hall of fame jockey Mick Dittman’s 32-year record of 97.5.

· His win for Gai Waterhouse in the Caulfield Cup on Descarado was his 42nd Group 1 victory.

· Neville Sellwood, Roy Higgins, Pat Hyland, Mick Dittman, Jim Cassidy and Damien Oliver are the other six jockeys to have won all four of Australia’s greatest races.