He's ridden Group One winners all over Australia but Chris Munce was back where his illustrious career all started at Eagle Farm on Saturday.Munce returned to Brisbane this month after more than a decade of interstate and international riding and the Melbourne Cup-winning hoop capped his homecoming with a brilliant display to win the $100,000 Falvelon Handicap (1200m) on Motspur.He gave the Kris Lees-trained Motspur the perfect run behind favourite Nuclear Medicine and had no hesitation in takin
He's ridden Group One winners all over Australia but Chris Munce was back where his illustrious career all started at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Munce returned to Brisbane this month after more than a decade of interstate and international riding and the Melbourne Cup-winning hoop capped his homecoming with a brilliant display to win the $100,000 Falvelon Handicap (1200m) on Motspur.
He gave the Kris Lees-trained Motspur the perfect run behind favourite Nuclear Medicine and had no hesitation in taking an inside run when that horse's rider Scott Thurlow went looking for better ground at the top of the straight.
Motspur ($3.40) quickly put the issue beyond doubt and went on to score a 2-1/2-length win over Nuclear Medicine ($3.30) with consistent gelding The Jackal ($4.60) battling on for third two lengths away after pulling hard throughout the race.
Munce said he was always confident Motspur would figure in the finish.
"He jumped well and travelled strongly throughout the race," he said.
"We had a soft run behind the speed and he gave a really good kick when he let down."
Munce won back-to-back Brisbane apprentices' titles in 1988-89 before he relocated to Sydney and his last Australian Group One win came at Eagle Farm on Reigning To Win in the 2006 TJ Smith Classic.
Earlier, Brian Smith showed why he's rated a master horseman when Montjeu gelding Ivy's League overcame an injury concern to score an upset win in the $50,000 Cleandomain Handicap (1815m).
Ivy's League was formerly trained in New Zealand and the four-year-old arrived at Smith's stables, carrying a mystery ailment, in January on the recommendation of Windsor Park Stud manager Steve Till.
"They didn't know what was wrong with him so Steve told the owners they should send him to me, I would find out," he said.
"I found a muscle tear under his stifle and it's taken a while to get him right but he's a horse with a bit of class and he showed that today."
Ivy's League broke his Australian maiden with a victory over 1700m at Ipswich at his second local start but punters ignored that performance and the horse started at $26.
In a blanket finish, Ivy's League showed plenty of grit to grab a half-neck win over Telestah La Vistah ($18) with Smuggler's Inn ($5 eq fav) a head away third.