Chris Munce looks to winter with Navyonthehighway

By Glenn Davis

The father-and-son training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce is hopeful long-term winter plans will move a step closer for promising sprinter Navyonthehighway after the Listed Recognition Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Navyonthehighway was a dual acceptor for the Recognition Stakes and Listed Tattersall’s Classic but 'Team Munce' has scratched her from the latter race for fillies and mares on a heavy track.

Navyonthehighway – a Tahlia Fenlon mount – has won four of her six starts and is coming off a last start fourth to Belclare in the Group 2 Hot Danish at Rosehill on November 9.

The four-year-old has a proven record on a heavy track following her win on a Heavy 8 on debut at the Sunshine Coast in late May.

'Team Munce' sent Navyonthehighway to Sydney last start hoping to get a gauge on her long-term prospects for next year’s winter in Brisbane. 

“I wanted to test her in the deep end, so I sent her to Sydney for her last run to get a foundation for the winter carnival next year,” co-trainer Chris Munce said.

“To the eye, she’s come back well and has settled into the same routine so I’m not concerned about running her on a wet track.

“She has shown us she can handle a heavy track after she won her first start by a big margin on the heavy track at the Sunshine Coast.”

Chris wants to see how Navyonthehighway fares in the Recognition Stakes before determining her immediate future.

“I want to see how she runs this week but I’d say this could be her last run before she goes out for a break,” Chris said.

“I’m undecided what to do with her next campaign other than the winter and possibly the Stradbroke or Tatt’s Tiara.

“There’s lot of fillies and mare’s races around in the autumn so there’s a chance I might even send her to Sydney or Melbourne but it’ll depend how she goes on Saturday.”

The daughter of Merchant Navy started her career as a late three-year-old and won two of her first three starts before earning the Sydney trip following her brilliant all the way win in a 1350 metre Class 3 Plate at Doomben last month.

“She started off her career in Melbourne but she was unraced and untrialled,” Chris said.

“Trips away like she did to Sydney toughens horses up so I’m hopeful she’ll be competitive again.”