Constantine to step up in Guineas

Constantine faces his biggest test as he attempts to maintain his unbeaten run for the Chris Munce stable in the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas.

He was one of 32 entries taken on Monday for Saturday’s 1600m-race which is now famous as the starting point for Winx’s 17-run winning streak two years ago.

Constantine was originally trained in Sydney by Gerald Ryan and was third at his only start in the south on the Beaumont track at Newcastle.

He has struck a purple patch since joining Munce at Eagle Farm, winning all four of his starts.

Raced by a high profile group which includes Kitchwin Hills, Werrett Bloodstock, and Whitby Bloodstock, Constantine cost $62,000 as a yearling but is rapidly repaying that figure.

He won his first three starts for Munce at Ipswich and was then sent for a spell.

A strong first-up win in a Class Four race at the Gold Coast last week convinced Munce to chase better races.

“It was a strong race for a midweek Class Four but he finished very powerfully and beat them well. I have always felt he was going to be best at 1600 metres or further,” Munce said.

Munce has nominated two-year-old Ours To Keep for the Bruce McLachlan Memorial Hcp (1200m) named in honour of one of Queensland’s greatest trainers.

Ours To Keep was one of the stars of the early two-year-old season winning his first three starts including the Group Three B J McLachlan Stakes at Doomben.

But he has been dogged by wet tracks and wide barriers at his next four starts including the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes when he was last, beaten 30 lengths, a month ago.

“He didn’t handle the Eagle Farm track at all in the Sires. But he seems to have got over the run and he is ready to run a good race,” Munce said.

The Listed Caloundra Cup attracted 15 entries headed by 2016 Brisbane Cup winner Benzini.