Chris Munce continues to build his Magic Millions hand after Poster Girl upsets Tony Gollan hotpot Barbie’s Sister at Sunshine Coast

All the rage was around Tony Gollan’s spruik two-year-old but Chris Munce had other ideas as he strengthened his Magic Millions hand at the Sunshine Coast.

Robbie Dolan swoops late on Poster Girl to beat Barbie’s Sister at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Grand Slam-winning jockey-turned-trainer Chris Munce has a hand full of aces heading towards the Magic Millions in January after notching up another two-year-old winner at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Munce has been a force to be reckoned with juveniles this season and produced his third individual winner after Poster Girl launched to mow down Tony Gollan’s spruik filly Barbie’s Sister in the shadows of the post.

With Devine Force having already secured a spot in the Magic Millions after winning her two starts, Munce now has Kahlisee and Poster Girl knocking on the door with a win to each of their names.

A perfectly-timed ride from @ZRKD sees Poster Girl win the @SCTurfClub opener for @munceracing! pic.twitter.com/7sl329Jsrl

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2023

“I think (Poster Girl) is very good, she’s a nice filly,” Munce said.

“She galloped on Monday morning and I couldn’t have been more pleased with her, I was very buoyed off that.

“I said to the boys that they’d have to be pretty good to beat her today.

“I was a bit worried when she was back that far, she had a great turn of foot and she is a bloody nice filly.”

A showdown between the trio of fillies is now looming next month in the Listed Calaway Gal (1000m) at Eagle Farm as Munce looks to plot a path to the first $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 13.

“I have to work out where I go with them all now, I will probably have to run them in the Calaway Gal or something I suppose,” Munce said, adding that he has Boomroux in the male division.

Munce had Miss Coota in the Magic Millions earlier this year after winning her first two starts however was struck down by barrier 13 on the day.

A big decision looms for Irish hoop Robbie Dolan, who has become one of Munce’s go-to jockeys.

Dolan has been in the saddle for each of Devine Force’s victories, and was in the hot seat again on Saturday aboard Poster Girl.

Thornton defies awkward draw in Mooloolaba Cup

Boris Thornton plunged to one of his lowest weights in recent history but was thinking it might have been in vain when his Mooloolaba Cup mount Dune Forty Five copped the car park barrier at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Riding at 55.5kg, Thornton decided to throw caution into the wind aboard the Rob Heathcote-trained stalwart, which proved to be a masterstroke after he nabbed Jetty in the shadows of the post to win the $92,000 winners cheque.

Dune Forty Five’s first-up run earlier this month proved irresistible for Thornton, with Heathcote and connections allowing him to ride in Saturday’s Mooloolaba Cup a half kilogram over.

“I was extremely confident until I saw the barrier draw,” Thornton said.

“It really threw a spanner in the works with how I was going to ride him because the speed map didn’t look great.”

Dune Forty Five wins the TAB Mooloolaba Cup! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/UJCO7ZZvyU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2023

It proved to be no issue at all after he managed to park the gelding one off the fence in a midfield position before making his move on the turn.

“I like to fly by the seat of my pants, it worked out in the end,” he said.

“They trusted me with this horse in allowing the extra half kilo, so I’m so grateful for this result today.”

After being backed into favouritism, Knight’s Choice ran fourth in a flashing run under regular jockey Jaden Lloyd.

Connections knocked back $2.3 million offers from Hong Kong for the Extreme Choice gelding, who was the unlucky runner in the race.

It comes as champion jockey Jimmy Orman marked his return to Brisbane riding with a timely double on the day.

Orman was the toast of Dubai earlier this month, riding five winners in a single meeting for former Queensland trainer Michael Costa.

He returned with his lead in the jockeys’ premiership still well intact and showed no signs of slowing down after producing the ride of the day on the well-backed Kapakiri.