MUNCE: How it felt to train my first winner

My first win as a trainer was spine tingling. I’ve ridden plenty of Group 1 winners, but I still had a big shiver go down my spine when Specific Choice got up at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Like riding, you always wonder when that first win will come. Things were going great with four placings from five runners last week, but there is nothing like a win.

I’m very pleased Specific Choice was able to quickly get the so-called monkey off my back.

It means a lot to break through, especially with a horse with Dynamic Syndications. It’s great to be able to repay Dean Watt and the Dynamic team for the faith they have shown in Munce Racing.

It’s brilliant for me and the team. This is a business and I’m in it to be successful, which will flow on our owners. It is early days, but I had high goals when I was riding and that hasn’t changed now I’m on the ground. I want the Munce Racing team to be competitive and running consistently and for me personally to be challenging the best trainers in the land.

Yes I am a rookie to the training game. This industry has been my life and I know if you have a dream and an ambition and you work hard enough, it can happen.

I rode my first winner at Caloundra on a horse called Voyager, owned by a wonderful musician, Bobby Gee, and ended up matching it with the best in the world.

Being a Queenslander I can’t think of a better place to start my quest for a Group 1 than Ipswich. It’s early days, I’ve got a good group of owners and the only way is up.

Last week: Lankan Rupee, and a nice Queensland galloper

What a star Lankan Rupee is. The way he won the Lightning was really something. I thought he was a better horse when leading, especially after he probably cost himself a Group 1 at Moonee Valley when he chased. Trainer Mick Price has added a new dimension to his game and he really burst the bubble on Deep Field.

Lankan Rupee couldn’t have been any more impressive, and he’ll be the one to beat this Autumn. It was a great race and there is more to come with ‘Rupee set to tackle the Newmarket.

I was pleased for Brisbane trainer Les Ross – watching his gelding Mishani Honcho run a nice third in the Silver Slipper. They’re talking about trying to get into the Golden Slipper by racing in the Todman and I think he’ll race better at 1200m. I watched with interest given my bloke, Wicked Intent, beat him a few starts ago. Wicked Intent is getting ready for the Winter Carnival here in Brisbane.

It is a big change for me, training rather than riding during the carnival. I’m just as excited about the prospects of saddling Wicked Intent Wicked Intent for some nice races rather than riding in them. The colt has come back from a break in great order. I’m confident he’ll fly the Munce Racing flag and perform well for his big group of owners.

The week ahead

The line-up for the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield looks like a strong race, with many sprinters that dodged Lankan Rupee set to fight it out. Earthquake looks the one to beat here. She’s a smart filly and with no weight on her back she can bounce back to the winner’s list.

This week I’ll be watching two horses, and no surprises for guessing who.

Certainly Foniton in the Blue Diamond is a big watch – she’s obviously the one they have to get past. That won’t be easy – she hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist is the other. It will be interesting to see how he shapes up in the Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield. I still can’t get over the sectionals he ran in the Cup, they were just as quick as some of the sprinters over the last sections. He resumes from a spell over 1800m which will be short for him. I’m expecting him to be impressive.