Brisbane Cup-winning jockey Chris Munce has been handed the task of sending Victorian mare Persian Star out a winner in her swansong in the Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.Munce, who won the 1998 Melbourne Cup on Jezabeel, is regarded as one of the country's best riders in staying races.He won the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm last month for a fifth time on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Tullamore.Persian Star received 54 kilograms for Saturday's 3200-metre feature, four kilograms
Brisbane Cup-winning jockey Chris Munce has been handed the task of sending Victorian mare Persian Star out a winner in her swansong in the Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.
Munce, who won the 1998 Melbourne Cup on Jezabeel, is regarded as one of the country's best riders in staying races.
He won the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm last month for a fifth time on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Tullamore.
Persian Star received 54 kilograms for Saturday's 3200-metre feature, four kilograms less than equal topweights Spechenka and Tinseltown.
Trainer Robert Smerdon can't recall ever having a Queensland Cup starter but is confident of victory with Persian Star who will wear blinkers for the first time under the Victorian trainer's care.
"I'm putting blinkers on Persian Star on the advice of her last rider, Michael Walker," Smerdon said.
"I've had her since she came into my stable as a three-year-old and I don't recall her ever wearing blinkers before.
"Michael thought the blinkers would be a good idea as he didn't think she was concentrating so hopefully they'll help her switch on more."
Smerdon said the Queensland Cup would be the last run for Persian Star before she heads to the breeding barn.
The daughter of Shot Of Thunder has started 48 times for seven wins and 11 placings with prizemoney earnings just short of $400,000.
The six-year-old is proven over the Queensland Cup journey after claiming the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington in May last year.
Persian Star has won six of her seven victories for Smerdon after she was transferred from fellow Victorian trainer Glen Hancock.
"She's been a very good mare and has won black type," Smerdon said.
"I got her as a three-year-old off Glen Hancock after he broke his back in a fall while breaking in a horse."
Smerdon has been satisfied with Persian Star's three performances in Brisbane this winter.
Persian Star beat only one home at weight-for-age when fifth to Glass Harmonium in the Group Two Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) before finishing eighth to Tullamore in the Brisbane Cup and seventh to Ironstein in the Group Three Tattersall's Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm last month.
"She wasn't suited at weight-for-age in her first run then she ran okay in the Brisbane Cup," Smerdon said.
"I had to drop her back in distance which wasn't ideal in the Tatt's Cup but she still ran a reasonable race.
"Hopefully she'll run better in her last run in the Queensland Cup as it's a step down for her."