Grand Slam winning jockey Chris Munce has picked up the ride on Deane Martin in this Saturday’s Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, replacing the suspended Brenton Avdulla.
Chris Munce has picked up the ride on Deane Martin in The Metropolitan at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Avdulla rode Deane Martin to victory last Saturday beating Iggy Pop and Celtic Prince in the Group 3 $125,000 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill and rated the Kiwi stayer a top chance in the feature Group 1 staying race of the Sydney Spring Carnival.
“I am sure he will run next week and I definitely think he is top three/top four right now,” Avdulla said after the win.
But Takanini trainer Bruce Wallace was quick to snap up Munce after Avdulla fell foul of stewards at Caulfield on Sunday for causing interference to Sir Rupert Clarke Charity Cup winner Trust In A Gust and was outed until midnight on October 5, ruling our next weekend’s big Epsom – Metropolitan Randwick meeting.
Stewards claimed that Avdulla shifted in on Sistine Demon at the 1000m causing Trust In A Gust to be checked and the top Sydney jockey pleaded guilty to the charge.
Part owner Allen Peard said that Deane Martin had to win on Saturday to gain a run in The Metropolitan and he would also consider a Melbourne Cup campaign if the five year old was to repeat last Saturday’s winning performance at Randwick this weekend.
“He’s got entries in all the good races in Melbourne, he’s all paid up,’’ Peard told the Sunday Telegraph after Deane Martin’s win on Saturday.
“He had to win today to step up and be a chance to go to Melbourne.
“But he’d almost have to win the Metropolitan to get into the big ones. If he doesn’t win the Metropolitan we’ve still got other options like the Herbert Power, Ballarat Cup, Geelong Cup and the Lexus.”
Deane Martin gained automatic entry into The Metropolitan by winning the Colin Stephen Quality and his price was slashed from $26 to $15.
Spillway from the stables of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig heads The Metropolitan market order at $5 ahead of La Amisatd at $7 and the Chris Waller pair of Junoob at $7.50 and Bagman at $9.
Munce had won The Metropolitan twice for Gai Waterhouse with both winners, Hula Flight, 1996, and Coco Cobanna, 2000, winning the Colin Stephen Quality at their previous start.
Deane Martin is rated an $81 chance for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.
