Champion jockey Blake Shinn will look to the future in the Spring Champion Stakes as he comes to Sydney to ride Elliptical at Randwick on Saturday.
Shinn has been riding in great form since returning from Hong Kong and had a winning treble, including winning the Geelong Cup with Emissary, on Wednesday. He admitted a trip to Sydney at the end of October was a little different.
Godolphin’s Golden Mile holds off a late challenge from Elliptical on the inside to win the Caulfield Guineas. Credit:Getty
He would love to be riding in tomorrow’s Cox Plate, but instead, he is on a horse he thinks could take him there next year.
“When I didn’t have a realistic Cox Plate chance and I had this bloke there in the Spring Champion it was an easy decision,” Shinn said. “It’s changing a bit, because of what they have done in Sydney with their spring, and it gives everyone options.
“I’m coming up for a good book of rides and a chance to win some good races, which is a bit different.
“I only got on Elliptical in the Guineas, but he is one horse I want to stay with into the future after what he did because he is the sort of horse that is only going to get better with a bit of time.
‘It’s changing a bit, because of what they have done in Sydney with their spring’
Leading jockey Blake Shinn
“I was in the right place at the right time to ride in the Guineas because Craig Williams chose Berkley Square and you have to make the most of these opportunities when they come.
“It could lead to a group 1 on Saturday.”
The changing tide sees the Caulfield Guineas quinella of Golden Mile and Elliptical taking the option to come back to Sydney rather than staying in Melbourne, a thought that would have been dismissed in years gone by.
Elliptical powered to the line late in the Guineas but couldn’t match Golden Mile at the mile. However, the step-up to 2000m has him the $4 favourite for the Spring Champion in front of Sharp ‘N’ Smart, Matcha Latte and Williamsburg, which come through the traditional path of the Gloaming Stakes.
“He has given every indication that the trip will be no problem and being by Dundeel, he has that staying blood,” Shinn noted of Elliptical. “He has got a good draw and should get the right run.”
The flow of horses north is added to by Renaissance Woman, which won the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday.
“She was coming home and when she pulled up ok, it fitted a bit better running her in the Spring Champion to give her 12 days into the VRC Oaks,” trainer Bjorn Baker said.
Earlier, Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile will start an odds-on favourite in the Callander-Presnell, which Godolphin trainer James Cummings noted used to be the Stan Fox Stakes.
“It’s a group 2 for $1 million, but it has a history behind it of very good winners,” Cummings said. “They were usually on their way to the Caulfield Guineas we are just changing it around a bit.
“He has got his group 1 from Caulfield, where he might not of handle the track that well, and we felt he had another peak performance in him.
“To have another mile race at Randwick gives us the chance to show him off again.”
