Cover image courtesy of Micheal McInally (Racing Queensland)
Trained by father and son partnership Chris and Corey Munce, Vein Girl secured her spot in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200 metres) after an explosive on-speed victory in Friday night’s The Debut (1000 metres), a $250,000 race restricted to juveniles having their first start, returning in excess of $150,000 for connections. However, a much bigger pay day looms on January 7.
“She’s a lovely filly,” Chris Munce said.
“Obviously, she’s a Blue Point and they are going really well. We got her cheap from Magic Millions and she has been able to train on nicely. I suppose we were leaving it until the death to try and qualify her but luckily, she was able to hold her hand up and win for us.
Chris Munce | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I expected her to win. In her trials she had been doing everything right. She’s a beautiful filly and is just handling everything very easily but she still has a lot of improvement to come. She sits off horses in her gallops and finishes off nicely so, I’m not to worried about the fact she had to lead on Friday night. We just made a good thing of her from a good gate.”
Munce’s glittering 29-year riding career is highlighted by 42 Group 1 wins including the Big Four – Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper. Furthermore, Munce also holds a special affinity with the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, he is one of only three jockeys in history to win three editions - victorious aboard Sunblazer in 1989, Excellerator in 2001, and Dance Hero in 2004. Understandably, when Munce says he has a horse that can win the race it’s best to listen.
“There’s no reason she can’t win, she’s a bomb proof natural 2-year-old and they’re the ones that win it,” Munce said.
“There’s no reason she (Vein Girl) can’t win, she’s a bomb proof natural 2-year-old and they’re the ones that win it.” - Chris Munce
“She is going to improve leaps and bounds off that first start. She only had one 650-metre trial at Deagon and one half-mile trial at the Gold Coast and she still ran time.
“The timing is probably perfect for her and I’ll tell you one thing, she is a sound healthy horse so she will be lining up on Magic Millions day in good condition.
“Tactical speed I think helps, particularly in recent years it has seemed to help. If they can draw a gate and be on the bunny it is certainly an advantage but in saying that they can sit off them and win.”
A $60,000 Magic Millions purchase from Three Bridges Thoroughbreds by Munce Racing and Arthur Hoyeau, Vein Girl is out of two-time winning mare Last Vein (Unencumbered), a half-sister to the dam of G3 winner Sookie (Casino Prince). Sookie is also the dam of G1 Spring Champion S. winner Shadow Hero (Pierro). However, Vein Girl’s precociousness may stem from her grand dam, champion 2-year-old and dual Group 1-winning filly Victory Vein (Mr Henrysee {USA}).
Ironically, Munce had seen the backside of Victory Vein on more than one occasion during his career in the saddle, finishing behind the star filly in the 2002 G1 ATC Sires Produce S. aboard Snowland and also in the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes when riding Sun Kisses (Hennessy {USA}).
“What drew me to her was the type she was,” Munce said.
Gallery: Vein Girl as a yearling, images courtesy of Magic Millions
“Arthur Hoyeau helped me find her, he sourced her, and I liked her as much as he did. She wasn’t 100 per cent perfect in front but show me a horse that is. She had a good body to her, she just had a few little x-ray issues but we were prepared to take the gamble with her and it has paid off.”
After a pair of exceptional trials, Munce easily syndicated the filly to a group of women, registering the daughter of Blue Point (Ire) for the $500,000 Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus. This means that in addition to any prizemoney earnt in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, a $500,000 Bonus will be distributed to the first four all female-owned horses in the race. A bonus that Munce is very familiar with.
“She’s a ladies horse and Paula Newnham got to work and was able to sell her pretty quickly,” Munce said.
“Once she trialled up and a few people saw her they were willing to take a bit more of her, so she went pretty quickly.
“Last year we won the ladies bonus with Poster Girl. She ran sixth in the race but she was the first ladies horse home, so it was a good result.”
Poster Girl (Alabama Express) collected $355,000 of her $478,000 career earnings when claiming the ladies bonus in the race last year.
Munce indicated he will be back at the Magic Millions Sale this year looking for his next value buy.
Chris Munce inspecting at the Gold Coast sales complex | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We’re always looking for a nice racehorse at the Magic Millions,” Munce said.
“I’ve found you don’t have to spend millions, like most of them do there, and still find a nice horse for around that $150,000 to $200,000 mark. There’s value to be found, that’s for sure.”
“I’ve found you don’t have to spend millions, like most of them do there (At Magic Millions Gold Coast), and still find a nice horse for around that $150,000 to $200,000 mark. There’s value to be found, that’s for sure.” - Chris Munce
Munce also hopes to have $100,000 purchase Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) line up in the $3 million event after finishing runner-up in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
