Chris Munce to join elite group

Chris Munce has achieved a rare double for a jockey-turned-trainer and is set for another milestone.

Chris Munce will saddle up two leading chances the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic with Ours to Keep and Champ Elect as he attempts a rare feat.

Munce won the race three times as a jockey on Sunblazer, Dance Hero and Excellerator.

When Champ Elect won the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes last month Munce became only the fourth jockey in Queensland in the past 70 years to ride and later train the winner of the same feature race.

Munce won the Calaway Gal on Military Grace in 2010 when he was re-establishing himself in the Brisbane.

A win by either of his Millions runners means he would join Maurice McCarten in a rare occurrence in a major Queensland race.

McCarten rode the winners of the Stradbroke, Doomben Cup (three times) and Brisbane Cup (four times) and in the mid-1950s he trained the winners of all three races.

The Magic Millions Classic is a restricted sales race and as such can’t carry Group One status.

However, it is listed among the top five major feature races in Queensland.

No jockey turned trainer from any state or New Zealand has achieved the Magic Millions Classic double.

“We have always said our aim is to establish ourselves and then to start winning feature races. I would love to win a Group One race as a trainer but first we will get past the Millions,” Munce said.

“The favourite Houtzen looked good in winning on Saturday. But I am very happy with my pair. They were at home after a good track work hit out on Saturday while Houtzen was racing at the Gold Coast.”

Munce will work the pair again on Tuesday in the final hit-out for the $2 million Classic.

The barrier draw for the capacity field will be held on Tuesday.