News

Blake Shinn looks for a group 1 win for the family with Fenway

25th Mar 2015

Sydney Morning Herald - by Chris Roots - Wednesday, 25 March 2015

The opportunity to ride Fenway in Saturday's Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill was not one Blake Shinn wanted to miss once he was booked by stepfather Lee Hope.

The disappointment of losing the seat on First Seal, the Vinery favourite, last week was tempered by having the chance to get on Fenway.

Shinn quickly moved on as he put it. The sacking from the star filly opened the door for "other opportunities".

"You have to move on in this business and I had the offer of two rides, Thunder Lady and Fenway, in the Vinery straight away. When you look at their form it was fairly similar," Shinn said.

"They met in the Wakeful (Stakes) in the spring and Thunder Lady had Fenway's measure but she was at the end of preparation.

"There is not much between them this time in and I know my family are very confident that they have a very good filly in Fenway. The chance to ride for them made it an easy decision in the end.

"It is not something I get to do a lot because they're down in Melbourne and to win a group 1 for them would be a highlight of my career."

The decision was made by time – Shinn was suspended for winning ride on Sweet Idea in the Galaxy last Saturday. However knowing he had the ride on Fenway was part of the reason he delayed taking his penalty until after Saturday.

"To ride for my family is just such a big thing for me and there was no way I was going to miss it," Shinn said.

"I have only had the one ride for them in a group 1 and that was Jadescent, which was second to Ferocity in the Coolmore Stud (Stakes) in 2005, so hopefully we can go one better.

"This filly was very good last time in Melbourne and my family tell that she is looking for this trip now."

Shinn has been riding well, booting home another treble at Warwick Farm on Wednesday courtesy of Silverball, Courtza King and War Jet, but had an injury scare after riding Romantic Time in the last.

"I just wrenched my wrist and it is quite sore. I'm going to take Thursday off to make sure I'm right for Saturday. It is a very important day and want to make sure I'm right," Shinn said.

Stewards will require Shinn to have doctor's clearance before riding on Saturday.

Fenway has been posted as an $18 hope in the Vinery, which is dominated by First Seal, which opened as a $1.90 TAB favourite. Only VRC Oaks winner Set Square at $6 and Winx at $7 are under double-figure odds in the group 1 apart from the favourite.

"First Seal is one of those horses that has a following and it was only natural she should go up at a short quote," TAB's Glenn Munsie said.

"She beat the fillies easily last time she met them and then was very good in the Coolmore Classic despite being beaten under a big weight for a three-year-old filly.

"She still has to be a question mark at the 2000m because she only had the one go at it. She was beaten in the Spring Champion Stakes but we are expecting punters to support her again."