The Millions trifecta that inspired new aspirations for Chris Munce

By Dylan Mutu

The Magic Millions Raceday was the springboard for Chris Munce's exceptional riding career, and now he dreams of achieving similar success one day now with his son Corey by his side.

Looking at Chris Munce’s riding résumé, it’s clear he achieved what most jockeys only dream of during their careers in the saddle.

Capturing the spring 'Grand Slam' of Australian Racing – the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, and Caulfield Cup – was just one of the highlights of his glittering 29-year riding career.

Munce also holds a unique record as the only jockey in history to win three Magic Millions 2YO Classic’s. His victories came aboard Sunblazer in 1989, Excellerator in 2001, and Dance Hero in 2004 – a feat unmatched since the race’s inception in 1987 and one he’s particularly proud of.

“It’s a great honour,” Munce said.

“It’s not something I set out to achieve, it’s just the way the cards fell. I’ve been very lucky to win three, so if I can come anywhere near that as a trainer, I’ll be doing quite well.”

Munce’s special link to the Magic Millions Carnival was forged with his 2YO Classic triumph aboard Sunblazer in 1989.

At just 19-years-old at the time, Munce was an apprentice honing his craft and seizing every opportunity under his master, Eric Kirwan.

Renowned as one of Australia's top trainers of juveniles, Kirwan was skilled in the early education of young horses and often brought Munce along for the ride, including with Sunblazer.

“For me, the Magic Millions Carnival has always been special because it’s where I rode my first feature winner on Sunblazer, many moons ago,” Munce said.

“What makes it even more meaningful is the close bond I had with my boss, Eric Kirwan, and the horse itself.

“I had a lot to do with Sunblazer from the start – breaking him in, educating him, and getting him to the races. To see all that hard work pay off with a win in the Magic Millions at such a young age is something I’ll always hold close to my heart.”

You could say that his win aboard Sunblazer launched his career, setting him on a path to success in the 1990s. During this period, Munce secured high-profile victories, including an Epsom Handicap, Melbourne Cup, Stradbroke Handicap, and the first of his Golden Slippers, solidifying his reputation as one of Australia’s top jockeys.

The early 2000s brought more success, including another Group 1 victory with Coco Cabana in The Metropolitan for Gai Waterhouse. This then set him up for key summer bookings, including a late-blooming two-year-old, Excellerator, who gifted Munce his second 2YO Classic in 2001.

“Yeah, he came through a bit of a back-door route after putting his hand up in a race at Randwick,” Munce said.

“He carried a bit of weight and ran good time over 1000 metres, which put him in the mix for the Magic Millions that year. Gai decided to give him a chance, and it paid dividends.

“That win was a little more special because a close friend of mine who looked after me as an apprentice passed away a month before the race. Winning it in his honour was a big thrill.”

Of all his career highlights though, Munce said the Gai Waterhouse-trained Dance Hero – who he rode to another Magic Millions victory three years later – was the one that impressed him the most.

“Yeah, he (Dance Hero) was one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden,” Munce said.

“He was a natural – not the prettiest horse in the world, but he just went about his business, handled work, and thrived on it.

“Plenty of horses loomed to try and get past him but never could. That was just him – he had a great will to win.”

Dance Hero’s win on the Gold Coast was a masterclass in brilliance, with the colt travelling effortlessly before unleashing a powerful finishing burst in the final stages.

That win marked the beginning of a remarkable juvenile season that included three Group 1 victories – the Sires’ Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes, and the Golden Slipper, where he still holds the race record.

“He could’ve been worth anything back then,” Munce said.

“You hear about these expensive colts after winning a Golden Slipper – he could’ve been worth $30 or $40 million in the early 2000s.

“It’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves for what he did as a two-year-old – he was a wonderful horse.”

These days, Munce has moved from the saddle to the binoculars, running a successful training operation at his Eagle Farm base for the past nine years.

Securing his first Group 1 as a trainer during the 2023 Queensland Racing Carnival, along with having runners on every Magic Millions Raceday since starting his training career, is a testament to his skill and success in the conditioning game.

Munce is now looking to build on this success alongside his son, Corey, who has been a great asset since joining him as a training partner at the start of this season.

The father-and-son combination currently sits third on the Queensland Metropolitan Trainer’s Premiership with 14 winners, with Chris attributing much of this success to Corey’s significant contribution.

“He’s been a great help and has been big asset,” Munce said.

“He started at the bottom, learned everything along the way, and has become a very good judge with our horses.

“We may not always see eye to eye, but we discuss and resolve things together, which is key.”

The Munce stable have admitted that they're slightly behind the eight ball for next month’s Magic Millions Raceday, but Chris and Corey have high hopes for their promising juveniles Cool Archie and Maddi’s Comet.

Whether this crop of gallopers are ready for summer riches remain to be seen, but Chris dreams of one day winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with his son as a training partner.

“Oh, it’d be great – it’d mean a lot,” Chris said.

“Whether it happens this year or not, we’ll certainly be trying. It would be wonderful to win it with Corey and have a two-year-old run here on the day.”