Brisbane trainer Chris Munce will be hoping his two-pronged attack at the Gold Coast can pay dividends on Saturday, as he looks to springboard Boomnova and Allude into the following weekend’s Magic Millions Carnival.
Four-year-old mare Boomnova was a winner at this meeting a year ago, when she looped the field to win the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) by one-tenth of a length over Mishani Miss.
The daughter of Spirit Of Boom then went on to run sixth in the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS Open (1300m) seven days later, finishing just two lengths off The Odyssey after leading throughout.
Since then, the talented mare has been “dogged by injury” having raced just three times, but Munce believes she is in the best form of her career, after a very brave second to Mass Destruction in an ultra-competitive Class 3 Plate at Doomben on Boxing Day.
Mass Destruction runs Boomnova down to clinch the win @DoombenRacing! @mcacajamez worked overtime to get it done for @tonygollan. pic.twitter.com/ejy9RvlULY
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2021
“She had the blinkers on, she trialled pretty well with the blinkers on before that, so it was a gear change that would help her, and she raced accordingly,” the trainer told HorseBetting.
“It was just a very freakish ride by (James) McDonald to be able to get Mass Destruction to the spot he did and then be able to run her down.
“Not that she was beaten a big margin, she led and got beaten a short margin in a very, very strong Class 3 race.”
Boomnova will go into Saturday’s Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Fillies & Mares Class 4 Plate (1300m) third-up, which should see the injury-plagued mare very hard to beat.
“She’s a very good galloper, but her whole career has been basically dogged by injuries, but she seems very, very well at the moment – probably the best form she’s been in,” Munce said.
“She is very straightforward — she’s just a tough mare.
“I haven’t really changed much, it’s just a matter of keeping her healthy and sound.”
After running sixth in the QTIS race on Magic Millions day in 2021, Munce has kept his options open in regards to what race she will line up in on January 15, nominating her for both the Magic Millions QTIS race and the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m), however he is leaning towards the former.
“I think she’s going to be better placed in the QTIS race, just at the weights,” he said.
“Seen as Apache Chase has been nominated, that’s going to compress the weights beautifully for her and it probably puts her in a better spot there on the minimum.
“She’s probably not as well placed at the Set Weights and Penalties in the Fillies and Mares race.”
Boomnova has drawn barrier five ahead of Saturday’s assignment, with Boris Thornton once again in the saddle.
Despite leading for most of the race on Boxing Day, Munce said she isn’t a one-trick pony and doesn’t have to lead to win, but he will leave the tactics up to Thornton.
Also lining up on Saturday at the Gold Coast is Munce’s two-year-old colt, Allude.
The son of Spirit Of Boom debuted at Doomben on December 26 in the Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes and ran an encouraging fifth behind the Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite, Coolangatta.
Coolangatta by @YulongInvestme1 Written Tycoon out of city-winning More Than Ready mare Piping Hot wins the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Doomben.
A $280k buy from Milburn Creek at the 2021 @mmsnippets Gold Coast Ylg Sale for @cmaherracing.
pic.twitter.com/cjGmAcXjN8— Thoroughbred Daily News AusNZ (@TDNAusNZ) December 26, 2021
Munce will be hoping Allude can win his way into the following Saturday’s $2 million feature, with a win in the Aquis Gold Nugget (1100m) enough to secure that spot.
“He’s improved a lot since the B.J. where he was just very green and raw,” Munce said.
“He’s come on in leaps and bounds from that, which he’s obviously going to have to to be competitive in the Magic Millions.
“He’s got to win on Saturday to get in the Magic Millions — but he has definitely improved.
“It just depends on whether he’s improved enough.
“I suppose time will tell, but he’s certainly a nice colt in the making.”
Markets are yet to be released for Saturday’s meeting at the Gold Coast, however Magic Millions All-In betting is available for the January 15 meeting.
Boomnova is rated a $51 chance with online bookmakers in the Fillies & Mares race, while she is rated $15 in the QTIS race.
As for Allude, the colt is a $301 chance in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
