Racing: Munce seeking to shoot for goal at spring carnival

Chris Munce. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Jockey Chris Munce is hoping to play a major part in the spring carnival action in Melbourne after fulfilling commitments in Sydney.

Munce, who won the 1998 Melbourne Cup on Jezabeel and last year's Caulfield Cup on Descarado, is extending his Sydney stay and will be the new rider for Queensland Derby winner Shootoff in the Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick next Saturday.

Last season's premier Queensland jockey, Munce has been juggling riding commitments between his home town, Brisbane, and Sydney in recent weeks.

He has been booked to ride Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore in the Metropolitan (2400m) and Shootoff's stablemate Dowager Queen in the Flight Stakes (1600m).

Munce is regarded as one of the country's top lightweight jockeys and is hoping the phone will be ringing after Glen Boss suffered a broken shoulder in a track accident last week.

Although Boss is optimistic he will be back sooner rather than later, Munce is ready and waiting.

Shootoff has failed at his only two starts in Sydney this spring since winning the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June.

Trainer Graeme Rogerson hopes Shootoff's form will warrant a trip to Melbourne for the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley next month.

The 4-year-old finished last on a heavy track in the Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm last month before a disappointing 12th to Lamasery in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on September 10.

Shootoff will have to buck recent history if he is to be a force in the major Cups races this spring. In recent years Queensland Derby winners have struggled to figure in the major spring staying races as 4-year-olds.

Lachlan River won the Brisbane feature in 2005 and was fifth to Makybe Diva in that year's Cup, while 2000 winner Freemason finished sixth to Brew at Flemington.

- AAP