By Glenn Davis
Trainer Chris Munce is hoping blinkers will help coax talented sprinter Racecourse Road back to winning form if the Sunshine Coast meeting proceeds on Sunday.
Racecourse Road is one of three runners Munce has entered at the Sunshine Coast but the former champion jockey is playing a waiting game following south-east Queensland's big wet over the past few days.
The Sunshine Coast track was rated a heavy 10 on Saturday morning after more than 200 millimetres of rain was dumped during the week.
Rain and high winds have played havoc with race metings in the south-east with Saturday's Doomben meeting washed out along with the Gold Coast and Warwick.
High winds forced the postponement of Friday's Toowoomba meeting to Monday.
Racecourse Road is entered for the Landsborough Pub and Landsborough Bakery Class 1 Handicap (1200m) while Moss Cheval lines up in the colts and geldings QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1000m).
Ceol Na Mara is engaged in the fillies QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1000m).
Munce was initially disappointed with Racecourse Road’s last start eighth behind Defence Missile at the Sunshine Coast last month.
“I was disappointed at first until I reassessed things,” Munce said.
“I think he was a bit flat after his first-up run when he drew the outside barrier and ran second.
“That’s why he hasn’t raced for three weeks and I’m putting blinkers on him for the first time if he runs.”
Munce has a good opinion of Racecourse Road who is a half-brother to Kelly Schweida’s former top sprinter Cape Kidnappers, a winner of nine of 19 starts before injury cut short his career.
Racecourse Road’s only win was in a maiden at Ipswich in March but he was rated unlucky after striking trouble when unplaced in Stakes races during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Racecourse Road ran seventh in the Listed Dalrello Stakes behind Mishani Hustler and seventh in the G2 Champagne Classic won by the Chris Waller-trained Zousain.
“He’s got plenty of ability but time will tell if he’s going to be a good horse,” Munce said.
Moss Cheval is yet to place in three starts and hasn’t raced since finishing seventh in a maiden at the Sunshine Coast in May while Ceol Na Mara also is first-up after finishing third as a two-year-old at Murwillumbah the same month.
“Moss Cheval is first-up but 1000 metres may be a bit short,” Munce said.
“He’s by Mossman and has had two trials and is ready to go to the races.
“Ceol Na Mara has placed in the wet and is a real nice filly.”
Racing Queensland webnews October 13