Champion jockey Blake Shinn will make his long-awaited return to race riding aboard WAR MACHINE in Saturday’s Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington, nine months after suffering a horrific broken leg on Melbourne Cup Day.
Shinn has not ridden competitively since falling from SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ in the race following last year’s Melbourne Cup. He suffered a compound fracture to his left tibia and fibula, with the leg broken in four places, before undergoing surgery and an extensive rehabilitation programme.
After returning to light trackwork in June, Shinn progressed to the Flemington jump-outs in July and has rebuilt his fitness while riding for several leading stables. Among those horses has been WAR MACHINE, whom Shinn partnered in two recent jump-outs, including a win over 800 metres on July 24.
The reunion is fitting, with Shinn having guided the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained gelding to an impressive two-length victory in last spring’s Group 2 Gilgai Stakes over the Flemington 1200 metres.
WAR MACHINE subsequently contested The Everest before returning in the autumn, finishing third in the Australia Stakes and contesting the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap. He resumes from barrier one with 60.5kg and boasts seven wins from 18 starts, including a Flemington victory over Saturday’s course and distance.
Lindsay Park holds a particularly strong hand as the spring approaches, with ARKANSAW KID and NDOLA also representing the Hayes stable.
ARKANSAW KID has established himself as a reliable top-level sprinter, having finished second in New Zealand’s Group 1 Railway before placing in the Listed Matrice Stakes. He has won twice at Flemington and possesses an excellent 1200-metre record.
NDOLA enters the race in outstanding form after defeating LINGANI in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint at Flemington on July 4. The lightly weighted gelding has won five of his eight starts over 1200 metres and remains unbeaten from two appearances over the Flemington straight course.
With WAR MACHINE, ARKANSAW KID and NDOLA occupying three of the first five positions in the field, the Aurie’s Star shapes as an important early guide to Lindsay Park’s spring sprinting strength. However, much of the attention will be on Shinn as one of Australia’s leading jockeys completes a determined return from the most serious injury of his career.
By Scott Bailey – iRACE
