Munce Gets Star Mount on Persian in Cup

July 5, 2011

Munce Gets Star Mount on Persian in Cup

Former Melbourne Cup winning hoop Chris Munce has been booked by Ballarat trainer Robert Smerdon to ride his veteran galloper Persian Star in this weekend’s Queensland Cup, the breeding barn-bound mare making her swansong race appearance.

Persian Star

Persian Star will make her swansong race appearance in the Queensland Cup

One of the final feature races of the season, the $150,000 Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) is the headline Eagle Farm event on Saturday and Shot Of Thunder six-year-old Persian Star is one of 20 nominations for this year’s edition of the two-mile showdown.

A winner of just seven of her 48 career starts, Persian Star will be out on Saturday to break a 16-race drought and head into retirement on a high note.

“She’s been a very good mare and has won a black-type,” Smerdon said of the mare that was transferred to him from fellow Victorian trainer Glen Hancock three years ago.

“I got her as a three-year-old off Glen Hancock after he broke his back in a fall while breaking in a horse.”

Persian Star became a stakes winner at Flemington in May last year with her win in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m), adding to her value as a broodmare, but hasn’t been seen in a winner’s stall since.

She boasts multiple Group placings including her game third to Moudre in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2600m) on Emirates Stakes Day 2010, but so far this year Persian Star has failed to record an eighth career triumph.

There was one very close call at Flemington back on May 21 this year when Persian Star came within a nose of subsequent Ipswich Cup winner and Caloundra Cup runner-up Gold In Dubai in the Peter Rowland Catering Handicap (2000m).

At her four runs since, however, Persian Star hasn’t finished better than fifth.

Her last three starts have all been during the Brisbane Winter Carnival at Group level.

The mare finished eight lengths away fifth to star import Glass Harmonium in the weight-for-age Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) on June 4 before finishing five and a half lengths away eighth to Tullamore, who was ridden by now five-time Brisbane Cup winning hoop Munce, in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 11.

“She wasn’t suited at weight-for-age in her first run (the Eagle Farm Cup) then she ran okay in the Brisbane Cup,” Smerdon said.

Persian Star’s most recent run leading up to the Queensland Cup was a seventh place finish behind Ironstein in the Group 3 Tatt’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 25.

“I had to drop her back in distance which wasn’t ideal in the Tatt’s Cup but she still ran a reasonable race,” Smerdon noted.

Stepping back up to 3200 metres with Munce in the mount for the first time, however, brings Persian Star right into Queensland Cup contention according to her connections.

“Hopefully she’ll run better in her last run in the Queensland Cup as it’s a step down for her,” said Smerdon.

Michael Walker had the ride aboard Persian Star in both the Brisbane and Tatt’s Cups, and after hearing his assessment of the rides, Smerdon has made the decision to add blinkers to her gear on Saturday.

“I’m putting blinkers on Persian Star on the advice of her last rider, Michael Walker,” Smerdon confirmed.

“I’ve had her since she came into my stable as a three-year-old and I don’t recall her ever wearing blinkers before.

“Michael thought the blinkers would be a good idea as he didn’t think she was concentrating so hopefully they’ll help her switch on more.”

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Re...

Vibrant Sun Shines in 2024 Aus...

Vibrant Sun Shines in 2024 Australasian Oaks Results

Vibrant Sun just held on in a brave effort showing true grit to salute in the...

Seonee Wins Queen Of The South...

Seonee Wins Queen Of The South Stakes 2024

Seonee rolled up and joined the leader Legacy 150m out from the line before...

2024 Tobin Bronze Stakes Resul...

2024 Tobin Bronze Stakes Results: Skybird Soars to Victory

The Mitchell Freedman-trained filly Skybird has scored an impressive win in...

2024 Queen Of The Turf Stakes ...

2024 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Results: Waller Runs Quinella with Zougotcha and Atishu

Trainer Chris Waller rounded out the Group 1 races at Royal Randwick on...

Race Results

2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Results: Climbing Star Stuns in Local Upset

Vibrant Sun Shines in 2024 Australasian Oaks Results

Seonee Wins Queen Of The South Stakes 2024

2024 Tobin Bronze Stakes Results: Skybird Soars to Victory

2024 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Results: Waller Runs Quinella with Zougotcha and Atishu

Race Previews

2024 South Australian Derby Field & Betting Update: Coco Sun Set to Shine

Fawkner Park Heads Wagga Wagga Gold Cup 2024 Field & Odds

2024 Queensland Guineas Field & Betting Update on Derby Lead-Up

Uncommon James Heads 2024 Victory Stakes Field & Betting

Warrnambool Cup 2024 Field & Betting Update: Little Mix Favourite

Fields & Form

2024 South Australian Derby Field & Betting Update: Coco Sun Set to Shine

Fawkner Park Heads Wagga Wagga Gold Cup 2024 Field & Odds

2024 Queensland Guineas Field & Betting Update on Derby Lead-Up

Uncommon James Heads 2024 Victory Stakes Field & Betting

Warrnambool Cup 2024 Field & Betting Update: Little Mix Favourite