Magic Millions 2YO Classic 2017: Munce not afraid of favoured pair

AS someone who is more aware than most of what it takes to win a Magic Millions, Chris Munce is not scared by what he has seen from new favourites Houtzen and From Within.

NATHAN EXELBY

2 min read

January 8, 2017 - 4:00PM

Ours To Keep takes out the Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben last month. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

AS someone who is more aware than most of what it takes to win a Magic Millions, three-time winner Chris Munce is not scared by what he has seen from new favourites Houtzen and From Within in the past fortnight.

Munce, in his second year of training, will saddle Ours To Keep and Champ Elect in Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast.

Between them, the pair have won five from five but they have slid down the betting charts since From Within and Houtzen booked their places in the field.

As a jockey, Munce won Magic Millions on Sunblazer, Excellerator and Dance Hero and said his pair would go into Saturday’s race in just as good a shape as any of that trio.

The confidence he has in his own horses has not been diminished by the boom on Houtzen and From Within.

“Everyone is getting carried away with the two fillies that won in the last fortnight,” he said.

“Houtzen has looked good but she has to back up and the (Chris) Waller filly has to get up here and still be at the top of her game.

“I am not at all scared off by what I have seen.”

Munce is even a little bemused that Damian Browne’s mount Ours To Keep has eased to $9 and Champ Elect (Kerrin McEvoy) $21.

“I don’t know what more my colt (Ours To Keep) has to do,” he said.

“He’s three from three, run time on each occasion and beat the Sydney horses fair and square last time, plus he’s improved a ton off that run.

Confident: his Munce and wife Cathy (right) after Ours To Keep won the Phelan Ready Stakes. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

“And with Champ Elect, I know all the ratings geniuses say she hasn’t run time and all the rest of it, but she can only beat what’s been put in front of her.

“I just don’t think they could have done anything more.

“Their work on the course proper (Saturday) was terrific.

“They couldn’t be better.

‘‘They’ve both had uninterrupted preparations, there’s been no hiccups and are exactly where I want them.”

Ours To Keep is a last-start winner of the B.J. McLachlan, a race that has provided three of the past seven Magic Millions winners.

Champ Elect has had a more unorthodox campaign and will go in four weeks between runs, having last been seen when winning the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes.

“Champ Elect is a clean-winded athletic filly, so she didn’t need another run,” Munce said.

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