Latest news with #CoreyMunce
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Huge offers': Studs clamour for Cool Archie as owner Max Whitby dreams of The Everest
Cool Archie has made a compelling case for Champion Two-year-old honours and put himself into The Everest conversation after his outstanding Group 1 win in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm last Saturday. The Chris and Corey Munce -trained Cool Archie made it five wins in succession – four of those at stakes level – when he comfortably held off Hidden Achievement. Unlike the Horse of the Year award which is a foregone conclusion after champion mare Via Sistina 's phenomenal 2024-25 – in which she won a record-equalling seven Group 1 wins including the Cox Plate - Queen Elizabeth Stakes double – there has been no dominant two-year-old this season. In fact, there has been a different winner of each of the five Group 1 two-year-old races with Marhoona and Devil Night scoring their only stakes win in the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond respectively. Nepotism won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and Group 3 Baillieu Handicap while Vinrock was unbeaten in three starts and became first horse since Full On Aces (1981) to win the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes double. But Cool Archie's late season surge with five consecutive wins including the Listed Dalrello Stakes, Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic, Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 JJ Atkins gives him a real shot at champion two-year-old honours. 'We feel he has done enough to win that award,'' owner Max Whitby said. 'He's an outstanding colt, he's won from 1000m to 1600m, he's won dry and wet tracks – he's a beauty.'' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Whitby said he had already fielded 'some huge offers' from interested studs looking to buy into Cool Archie as a potential stallion prospect. But Whitby said he wasn't going to be rushed into any decisions in the short term as he left on Sunday to attend Royal Ascot in England. 'I've waited 20 years since Savabeel to race another top class colt and I've found one in his grandson, Cool Archie,'' Whitby said. 'It's incredible that Chris Munce won the Cox Plate on Savabeel (2004) for me and all these years later he's training Cool Archie. 'This colt will make a great stallion himself one day but first we have a lot to look forward to with him next season.'' "You can mount a case he should be 2YO of the season." Cool Archie just keeps getting it done! What a star â� @munceracing @michaelmaxworth @bernadetecooper @BenWayAUS @CoreyGoodSkillz @BradJGray — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2025 Whitby said Cool Archie had earned a well-deserved spell with initial plans to set the colt for the Group 1 $3 million Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 1. But the owner also revealed there had been initial discussions about possibly aiming Cool Archie at the Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. 'Chris and I have been talking about The Everest, we are open to running him there,'' Whitby said. 'Cool Archie is such an exciting horse you have to look at everything. But we will just let the dust settle for now then see what some of the slot-holders are thinking.'' Whitby shares an Everest slot with Neil Werrett and Col Madden but they have already selected the outstanding Team Hawkes -trained Briasa for the world's richest turf race. Briasa is currently on the third line of TAB Fixed Odds Everest betting at $8 behind Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising at $1.80 and the unbeaten Private Harry at $6.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley recalls ‘dark days' when he feared neck injury would end his career
Newly crowned JJ Atkins champion Martin Harley remembers the 'dark days' when he feared his career as a jockey was over. In January 2023, the popular Irishman suffered multiple fractures to his neck in a sickening fall during a midweek race. Fast-forward to the Queensland Winter Carnival, and the 35-year-old hoop broke a 10-year Group 1 drought to take out the JJ Atkins (1600m) on Champion Two Year Old of the season contender Cool Archie at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Chris and Corey Munce -trained colt capped an incredible season with his fifth straight victory in a sensational campaign that began with a maiden win at Doomben in mid-April and ended with a major win on Stradbroke Handicap Day. Harley has taken a short break from riding to visit his family in Ireland and watch the races at famous racetrack Royal Ascot in England this week as a spectator. But his frightening fall in 2023 left him wondering whether he'd even be able to walk again, let alone make a comeback to riding – particularly given he was forced to wear a neck halo for several weeks during a long stint on the sidelines. 'Certainly there were dark days during that four-and-a-half month period,' he told Racenet. "I'm glad to get back on that Group 1 board." Martin Harley gets his first Group 1 win on Australian soil! — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025 'I think the big key was that I never had any operations during that period and it was all natural healing. 'Everything went back for scans and the healing was going in the right direction. 'That was a big boost for me to even make a comeback. I didn't know if I even wanted to get back on a horse. 'When I had my first winner in my comeback – Sunfall for Barry Lockwood at Doomben (in May 2023) – I'll never forget it. 'I wasn't meant to give it up just yet and I got a big thrill out of my first winner back from the injury and to now ride a Group 1 winner (on Cool Archie), that's very special. 'He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's just the whole package and he can do it all.' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • The well-travelled Harley has now won six majors since 2012 – three in France and one each in Ireland, England and Australia. Asked where the JJ Atkins victory rated among his six Group 1s, the 35-year-old said: 'It's hard to split them. 'When I came out of my apprenticeship, my first Group 1 winner back in Ireland (in 2012 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas) for Mick Channon on Samitar was very special. 'Going back to my homeland to ride a Group 1 winner was unbelievable and then a Royal Ascot winner with Goldream (in 2015). 'One thing I will say, this (the JJ Atkins) is up there with the best.' JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley celebrating in style ✈ï¸� ðŸ�¾ Via Instagram / djzoro27 — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025 Chris Munce, who will fly out to England on Sunday night with son Corey and Cool Archie's owner Max Whitby to also attend the Royal Ascot Carnival, praised Harley's ability to stay composed under pressure. 'He's very confident in his opinion and he backs himself, which is something I like,' Munce told Radio TAB on Sunday. 'He rarely gets it wrong and he's calm under pressure in the bigger races.'
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 JJ Atkins
Local hope Cool Archie gave father/son training team Chris and Corey Munce a first Group 1 winner as partners in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Chris Munce, who win the race as a jockey aboard Sizzling, won his only previous Group 1 as a trainer with Palaisipan in the Tatts Tiara back in 2023 but Cool Archie victory was Corey's Group 1 win. Ridden by Martin Harley, Cool Archie stalked the speed throughout, strode to the front at the top of the straight and was never in danger of defeat down the running. Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Cool Archie defeated the well supported Hidden Achievement with roughie Call Da Vinci claiming third. Cool Archie is a two-year-old colt by Cool Aza Beel (NZ), the win was his fifth from nine starts and took his earnings to more than $1.6 million. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the JJ Atkins. 1st - COOL ARCHIE (Martin Harley) I think the horse has done most of the talking. He's taken a big step forward each run and that's what the good ones do. But to transform from a heavy (10) to a good (4) there today, which I knew he would handle, I never had any doubt in that. But what a superstar he is. 2nd - HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT (James McDonald) He's a beautiful horse who acquitted himself very well today. Just got a check out of the gates that put us two spots further back than expected. He's done a marvellous job to get as close to the winner who has had a terrific carnival. Full credit to the winner but my bloke is a horse to follow. 3rd - CALL DA VINCI (Jaden Lloyd) Terrific run. Very proud of him. Just unlucky that we drew wide. If we got a gate then we'd go close to winning. 4th - PROVIDENCE (Tommy Berry) He drew wide, we had to go back. It was a messy race, as you would expect. Lucky we had a nice three to four wide line pressing forward at the 600m which gave us a nice cart into the race. He's done a good job in his first prep. 5th - AERODROME (Regan Bayliss) No comment provided. 6th - GRAFTERBURNERS (Craig Williams) He displayed a very bad temperament pre-race. He ended going to give me a lovely run inside of the eventual winner who is a bit of a star this carnival and probably beyond. I thought my horse acquitted himself well. The question mark going out of today is whether this horse is a solid 1600-metre horse. It will be interesting to see when he comes back next time. He does have very good ability. 7th - NAVY PILOT (Ryan Maloney) Just stepped away a bit slow and couldn't muster. I wanted to be at least midfield but it was very messy. He finished off the race very well. 8th - TORQUE TO BE SURE (Mark Zahra) His racing manner don't help him. 9th - FARNICLE (Tim Clark) Ran ok. If felt the edge was off him a little bit. Maybe that run on the heavy track just took it out of him. 10th - MORTAL HALO (Zac Lloyd) Nice colt. Messy run race for him but I think he'll come back a nice three-year-old. 11th - THEE CREEK (Mark Du Plessis) He got a lovely run behind the winner. Travelled really well. I thought he was going to be competitive going in. He's probably just had enough. 12th - MEET GEORGE (Ron Stewart) Up to the mile today, I think he's probably not ready mentally and physically. Maybe next prep he'll get the mile. We learnt a lot today and he'll be a nice horse next prep. 13th - THE BEAR (Justin Stanley) He ran well. Just a wide gate and if he draws well he probably runs top ten. He tried hard. 14th - ZEBRA FINCH (Kerrin McEvoy) Got a nice trail. He travelled along nicely. Just off the bridle he didn't enjoy that ground. Nice colt in the making next prep. 15th - SWEET PRETENDER (Cejay Graham) That was a bit tough. She didn't run the mile out. She'll be better next preparation.
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Cool Archie wins the JJ Atkins for Queensland
Local hope Cool Archie gave father/son training team Chris and Corey Munce a first Group 1 winner as partners in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Chris Munce, who win the race as a jockey aboard Sizzling, won his only previous Group 1 as a trainer with Palaisipan in the Tatts Tiara back in 2023 but Cool Archie victory was Corey's Group 1 win. Ridden by Martin Harley, Cool Archie stalked the speed throughout, strode to the front at the top of the straight and was never in danger of defeat down the running. Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Cool Archie defeated the well supported Hidden Achievement with roughie Call Da Vinci claiming third. Cool Archie is a two-year-old colt by Cool Aza Beel (NZ), the win was his fifth from nine starts and took his earnings to more than $1.6 million.
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Corey Munce's career as a horse trainer is flying, despite his dream to be a pilot stuck at the terminal
Ever since he was a kid, a starry-eyed Corey Munce wanted to be a pilot. And although that dream never came to fruition, he's still flying sky-high - only now as a thoroughbred trainer alongside his dad and former champion jockey Chris Munce. 'I am loving it and I wouldn't do it any other way,' Corey said about his first season of training with his dad and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Chris. 'I love working with him and he's taught me just about everything I know. 'We work extremely well together as a team. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I sort of struggled with the idea of partnerships and why they're necessary. 'But now I see why because there are two sets of eyes looking at everything and making sure it all runs smoothly, and that's the power of a partnership.' It's easy to see why the affable Corey is loving life as a trainer, with the Munce stable crushing it during this year's Queensland Winter Carnival, and they're not done with yet. Team Munce train the $4 favourite Cool Archie in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) and also boast $34 chance Payline in the prestigious Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday. It's been a whirlwind introduction to training for Corey, who achieved his childhood dream of gaining a pilot's licence before Covid hit but then struggled to land a job in a cut-throat industry. 'For the life of me that's all I ever wanted to do,' he said about becoming a pilot. 'I always genuinely loved (horse) racing but I wanted to do what I thought was right for me at the time and I achieved that. 'But I found it very difficult to get a job and any pilot will tell you it's the first job that's the hardest (to secure). I couldn't get one so I started working with the horses. 'I've always loved racing but never really knew how to get into it. 'When you're at school and you go to the career expos, you don't see too many horse trainers there, do you? 'That's why it's so prevalent for family members and what-not to go through that system because there's no real avenue to being a trainer. I'm very privileged and lucky that Dad is a trainer.' And did Chris ever put any subtle pressure on his son to head in that direction where early starts on cold winter mornings can make trainers question why they're even in this game? 'Never at all, it was all me wanting to go that way,' said Corey, who turns 30 on June 22 - the day after Ipswich Cup Day. 'There was expectation that I knew everything and I didn't and it's taken me a long time to feel very grounded. 'I never became a trainer too early in my opinion. This was the right timing for me, Dad and the business.' Corey describes the partnership with his 56-year-old father as like 'yin and yang', with him being the cool, collected type and Chris more having the fire in the belly. 'I'm very much the cool one, although maybe not in the early days when I had my moments,' Corey said with a laugh. 'This game is extremely levelling. I read somewhere the other day that winning and losing are both temporary. 'You enjoy the good days but you never get ahead of yourself. We're just having a really good winter carnival. 'I can bet you anything that if you did an average value of horses in stables then we'd be certainly down the bottom which means we're overachieving with the horses we've got.' So what would it mean if Corey can share the exhilarating feeling of winning a Group 1 this Saturday with his proud father Chris. 'I'd probably be a little bit emotional after the race,' he said. 'It'd mean the world to me and to do it with Dad would just be the cherry on top.'
