Chris Munce mount Love Conquers All hunting down Hay List
Chris Munce, rider of Love Conquers All, is hoping that chasing home superstar Black Caviar may have taken a toll on Hay List.
Black Caviar has been the only horse to beat Hay List so far this year, thrashing him three times in the Lighting Stakes, TJ Smith Stakes and BTC Cup.
However, with his nemesis now in the spelling paddock, Hay List seems to have the Group 1 $650,000 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on Saturday at his mercy.
But Munce isn't about to concede defeat, pointing out that the under-rated Love Conquers All is the "fresh horse on the scene".
The Doomben 10,000 field attracted only nine starters with the bookies posting Hay List at "Black Caviar odds" of $1.50, with Beaded next at $6.50 and Love Conquers All at $8.
Munce knows Hay List's capabilities, having ridden the hulking sprinter once previously for a runaway in the Healy Stakes, and is the first to admit Love Conquers All faces a tough task to beat him.
"It's a weight-for-age race and that suits Hay List," the champion jockey said.
"But Love Conquers All is the fresh horse on the scene and he's been set for just the two races in Brisbane - the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke."
Munce has only ridden Love Conquers All twice for Group 1 seconds in the George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Mile during the Sydney autumn carnival.
"He ran out of his skin both times I rode him in Sydney," Munce said.
"He's a very nice horse - he'll be hard to beat."
In fact, Love Conquers All does boast a decision over Hay List, narrowly defeating him in the June Stakes at Randwick last year.
Love Conquers All, trained by John Hawkes and his sons Wayne and Michael, has drawn barrier five with Hay List to come out of gate two.
Munce, who is a runaway leader in the Brisbane jockeys' premiership, wasn't about to give away his race tactics but he hopes Hay List doesn't get an easy lead.
"I don't know what will take Hay List on, maybe Buffering," Munce said.
"I'll ride Love Conquers All where he's happy to settle. He's adaptable like that. He sat outside the leader in the George Ryder and then he box-seated in the Doncaster."
Munce, one of only seven jockeys to win Australian racing's grand slam of the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper, is chasing his 43rd career Group 1 win on Love Conquers All.
The jockey revealed his first major race success came in the 1992 Doomben 10,000 on Barossa Boy: "This is a special race to me for obvious reasons," he said. "I'd love to win it again."
Story: Ray Thomas The Daily Telegraph