Scott Wants Munce For Miss Keepsake

Tuesday, 28 September 2010 02:45

New Zealand trainer Andrew Scott is hoping Chris Munce will be available to partner Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake if she books a trip across the Tasman for next month's Group One Caulfield Cup.

Miss Keepsake will be on trial for her second trip to Australia when she lines up in Saturday's Group One Kitt Ormond Memorial Spring Classic, formerly the Kelt Capital Stakes, at Hastings.

Vinnie Colgan will partner Miss Keepsake in the Spring Classic after Munce was required for Queensland filly Ringa Ringa Rosie in the Group Two Sir Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

The Flemington meeting has since been transferred to Sunday to avoid clashing with Saturday's AFL grand final replay allowing Munce to ride at Eagle Farm where he is already in strong demand with five early bookings.

Munce took a one-win lead over Jim Byrne in the Brisbane jockeys' premiership with a winning double at Doomben last Saturday.

Miss Keepsake gave Scott his first Group One success in the Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June before backing up a week later to finish third to the Bart Cummings-trained Dariana in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m).

Scott is not concerned Miss Keepsake has failed to regain her winter form in two starts this campaign in her homeland.

The daughter of Keeper finished in front of just one runner, almost seven lengths from the winner Elblitzem, when she resumed over 1600 metres at Hastings on August 28 before a struggling 12th to Wall Street in the Group One Windsor Park (1600m) at the same track on September 18.

"She's steadily picking up and I'm hoping her form gets back to what she showed in Brisbane," Scott said.

"Chris (Munce) could have ridden her in the Kelt but he was committed to Ringa Ringa Rosie when they were due to race on Saturday.

"Vinny Colgan is riding her now but I hope Chris will be available if she goes over for the Caulfield Cup."

Scott blames rain-affected tracks for Miss Keepsake's below-par performances this campaign and expects a sharp improvement once she gets on a dry surface.

"She's a duffer in the wet. I'm not concerned with her form and it's just a matter of getting the runs into her and getting her up to her right distance," he said.

"She's never been competitive in a big race at less than 2000 metres."

Munce is also keen to retain his association with Miss Keepsake who has won four of her 10 starts.

"I could have ridden Miss Keepsake on Saturday but Ringa Ringa Rosie has been very good to me and you can't give up on her for one bad run," Munce said.

"But if Miss Keepsake comes over for the Caulfield Cup I'd like to ride her."

Ringa Ringa Rosie struggled to cope at Caulfield when 11th to Divorces in the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 18.

However, Munce felt there were excuses for the defeat as she had trouble getting around the corners at Caulfield.

Picture: Sportpix