Constantine’s big test
Munce steps up in-form three-year-old for crack at Guineas
CONSTANTINE faces his biggest test as he attempts to maintain his unbeaten run for the Chris Munce stable in the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas on Saturday.
He was one of 32 entries taken yesterday for the 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 in November.
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 4 race at the Gold Coast last week convinced Munce to chase better races.
“It was a strong race for a midweek Class 4 but he finished very powerfully and beat them well,” Munce said.
“I have always felt he was going to be best at 1600 metres or further.”
Munce has nominated twoyear-old Ours To Keep for the Bruce McLachlan Memorial Handicap (1200m), the Sunshine Coast race named in honour of one of Queensland’s greatest trainers.
Ours To Keep was one of the stars of the early two-yearold season, winning his first three starts including the Group 3 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, at Eagle Farm 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 Caloundra Cup attracted 15 entries headed by 2016 Brisbane Cup winner Benzini.
SUNSHINE Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick is looking beyond his big home-track meeting with the beautifully bred Rancho Montoya.
The colt made his debut in a 1200m Ipswich maiden last week and cruised home after being backed from $2.20 into $1.25.
“He had a bit on them at Ipswich but we will give him his next real test at Doomben on Saturday week in a 1350 metre two-year-old,” Kendrick said.
“If he wins that as we would expect he will go to Melbourne for the spring carnival races.”
Rancho Montoya is by High Chaparral out of the Group 1winning mare Isolda, who counts a win over superstar Octagonal on her record.