Toowoomba stayer Fantastic Blue is set to miss the Newcastle Cup following Chris Munce's decision to ride the Gai Waterhouse-trained Essence Of Success.Trainer Paul Nolan was disappointed but understood Munce's decision to part company with Fantastic Blue after the pair combined to win the gelding's past three starts.Nolan's decision not to contest the 2300m feature on Thursday came after he was unable to find a suitable replacement for the grand slam winning jockey."I can understand Chris wanti
Toowoomba stayer Fantastic Blue is set to miss the Newcastle Cup following Chris Munce's decision to ride the Gai Waterhouse-trained Essence Of Success.
Trainer Paul Nolan was disappointed but understood Munce's decision to part company with Fantastic Blue after the pair combined to win the gelding's past three starts.
Nolan's decision not to contest the 2300m feature on Thursday came after he was unable to find a suitable replacement for the grand slam winning jockey.
"I can understand Chris wanting to ride for Gai," Nolan said.
"She could have a few Group Ones coming up for Chris but my my bloke would have beaten Gai's horse."
Nolan searched everywhere trying to find a replacement for Munce.
Robert Thompson was one of several jockeys on Nolan's hit list but he has a prior commitment to the Kris Lees-trained Timetable if the seven-year-old makes the field.
Nolan was looking forward to Fantastic Blue starting after the gelding received the minimum 53 kilograms.
"That weight is what I expected. It's a Group Three race," Nolan said.
"I was really impressed with his last win and he would have been a great chance.
"He won by two lengths last time and finished off the race so well he was five in front 10 metres past the post."
Munce and Nolan have forged a formidable partnership with Fantastic Blue but the Brisbane rider was more impressed by Essence Of Success's last start second to The Verminator in the Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on September 2.
Nash Rawiller had been the regular rider of the five-year-old mare winning twice at Warwick Farm from her three previous starts.
Munce was the stable rider for Gai Waterhouse before leaving to ride in Hong Kong several years ago but teamed up with racing's first lady to win last year's Caulfield Cup on Descarado.
The winner of last season's Brisbane jockeys' premiership, Munce has been in spectacular form this season but had a rare bad day when he failed to ride a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
He had previously ridden a winner at every metropolitan Saturday meeting this season since returning from a short overseas holiday in early August.
Queensland still may have a strong representation in the Newcastle Cup with the Brian Smith-trained Hume and Raeburn set to clash while Caloundra Cup winner Spechenka and Grafton Cup winner Warrior Within have been nominated.