Munce Lands Winning Double As Comeback Gathers Pace
The Age
Monday December 15, 2008
COMEBACK jockey Chris Munce returned to the winner's circle yesterday, 21months after being banished from the racetrack.
The Melbourne Cup, Golden Slipper and Cox Plate-winning jockey scored a winning double from four rides at Hawkesbury.After finishing second on Shrewd Princess in the opening race, Munce steered the Mitchell Hudson-trained Swiftus to a comfortable victory in the second.He later won on trainer Steve Englebrecht's War Council."It was terrific," Munce said."The crowd was fantastic when I came back in, they cheered, clapped, carried on."Munce, who will ride form galloper Something Anything in Saturday's Villiers Stakes at Randwick, is more than happy with his return, which began at Randwick last Friday with three rides and continued with five rides at Rosehill on Saturday."I'm giving my horses every chance and the more I ride the better I'll be," Munce said.He has a busy schedule this week with trials at Hawkesbury today, Randwick tomorrow, Wyong races on Wednesday, Canterbury on Thursday, trials again at Randwick on Friday before the Villiers on Saturday.Munce was sentenced to 30months in jail last year for his part in Hong Kong's "tips for bets" bribery scandal. The term was reduced to 20 months for good behaviour.His return to the saddle continues to be surrounded in controversy.A fortnight ago, he was charged by Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards with 36 breaches of the rules of racing. Munce pleaded guilty and was disqualified until next September.Two days after the HKJC decision, Munce appeared at a show-cause hearing at the offices of Racing NSW and was granted a licence to ride in NSW, a decision that angered the HKJC.Takeover Target's stay in Perth is over, with trainer Joe Janiak ordering a spell for the remarkable sprinter.Perth stewards reported that Takeover Target pulled up slightly lame in the near foreleg after winning the Scahill Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
© 2008 The Age