In two-and-a-half years of training Chris Munce has stamped himself as a top juvenile conditioner, confirmed once again when Pony Power won at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Backed from $4.80 into $3.80, Pony Power finished too strongly to beat Lady McCabe ($17) by a head with a short neck to Aetherius ($41) in the Vilis Family Bakery Plate.
Munce won both divisions of the opening metropolitan two-year-old races last season with Ours To Keep and Champ Elect.
He did not have a runner in the colts and geldings division this year but Pony Power kept his record intact with a strong win.
Pony Power, a filly by former top sprinter Foxwedge, cost $100,000 at the Magic Millions sales.
The filly has a strong pedigree on her dam Lonoree's side going back to Denise's Joy who has had many offspring win at Group I level.
"She picked up $40,000 today so it takes a lot of the pressure off us to qualify for the Millions," Munce said.
"I can pick and choose the right races for her from here on in."
Munce said Pony Power would be even better suited when the distances got longer than 900m.
"I liked the way she hit the line and she got very close to 33 seconds for her final 600m," Munce said.
"I have a couple of others for the Millions who go OK and I am looking forward to the two-year-old season."
By AAP (Mark Oberhardt)
