Munce on Spartan diet for George Main

Top jockey Chris Munce has returned to the Spartan days to reduce his weight to ride glamour colt All Too Hard in the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick tomorrow.

Munce had to reduce his riding weight from a comfortable 53kg to 50.5kg which three year old colts and geldings carry at weight for age and is hoping he can be rewarded with an improved performance from All Too Hard.

“He’s certainly a nice horse. No risk, he’s a genuine Group 1 horse,” Munce said.

“He’s got more improvement in him, and once he gets to Melbourne then you will probably see the real horse, but that’s not saying he can’t win this race.”

Munce ventured to Sydney from his Brisbane home last week to get a feel of the Casino Prince colt in a Warwick Farm barrier trial and was pleased with the way All Too Hard trialled, running second to Torio’s Quest over 1200m.

Team Hawkes took the huge gamble to bypass the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) for three years olds at Rosehill on September 15 and decided to step the colt up to 1600m at weight for age.

All Too Hard has somewhat been a disappointing start to the Spring and after finishing third to Snitzerland in the Group 3 $125,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 18 missed a place when fifth to Pierro in the Group 3 $125,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 1.

The George Main has pulled together a strong field of Group 1 performers with premiership trainer Chris Waller providing three runners in the eight horse field and if All Too Hard can perform up to expectations, a start in the Group 1 $1m Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13 could be on the agenda.

AJC Derby winner Shoot Out is resuming while Rangirangdoo has the benefit of a run when fourth in the Group 3 $125,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on September 8.

And Danleigh scored at his second run back, taking out the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday 8.

“If any of them won it would be a special win, they have all been at this level before and Danleigh has less chances than the other two in terms of the clock ticking,” Waller said.

“Rangirangdoo is not much younger while Shoot Out has a couple of years on both of them.”

“My three will keep them honest, obviously there are some handy horses in there on their day as are mine.”

Waller has given Shoot Out three barrier trials to get him ready for his return but admits that he hasn’t really tested him to a great degree.

“We haven’t tried to find out how well he is going, we’ve just done what he’s comfortable with and given him three trials,” Waller said.

In the third of those trials we asked him to quicken over the last 200m but it is a big step up to a weight for age race first-up.”

Waller hasn’t cemented in a Spring program for his three top liners, but a start in the Group 1 $500,000 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 6 is on the cards.

The Grahame Begg trained Secret Admirer heads the George Main markets at $4, just ahead of Shoot ($4.20) and Danleigh ($5) with all Too Hard at $5.50 and Rangirangdoo at ($6.50).

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.