Top Australian jockey Blake Shinn flies back into Hong Kong on the eve of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) for important rides at Sha Tin in two of the four Group 1 features on Sunday, 8 December.
He is on a mission to give a visiting Australian horse its first victory at Hong Kong’s biggest meeting of the year since Falvelon’s success in the 2001 Hong Kong Sprint (1000m).
The Melbourne-based jockey, who is well known to Hong Kong race-goers, is confident Queensland horse Antino is a genuine chance in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) for trainer Tony Gollan.
Shinn will also be reunited with David Hall who saddles Invincible Sage in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint.
Both Antino and Invincible Sage are already Group 1 winners.
Shinn rode Antino to a six and a half-length victory two starts back in the G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, while Mark Zahra partnered the six-year-old gelding to a narrow second at his most recent start in the G1 VRC Champion Mile (1600m) behind Mr Brightside at Flemington.
Shinn was lauded for his ride on Antino in the Toorak Handicap when, after settling in last position, he made his move at the 700m mark and hit the lead at the home turn and then careered away for a demolition of the opposition.
After missing the ride on Antino in the VRC Champion Mile because of suspension, Shinn is looking forward to getting back on the gelding and tackling a field of elite milers.
“I am very excited, especially to be going over there on an Australian horse representing Australia,” Shinn said.
“It’s been a race on the forefront of the connections’ minds and to be going over there with him and the form he is in, I’m sure he is going to do everyone proud.”
Shinn said Antino was absolutely brilliant when he won the Toorak Handicap and hopefully he can emulate that run.
And Shinn hasn’t discounted the chances in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint of Invincible Sage who he describes as a quality sprinter on his day who will be lining up for his fourth run this campaign.
A Group 1 winner of the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin in April, the gelding finished five lengths behind David Hayes’ sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at his most recent start at Sha Tin on 17 November.
Ka Ying Rising broke the track record that day as he further enhanced his claim as the world’s best sprinter and Shinn described him as phenomenal and the most exciting sprinter in the world at the moment.
While he said everyone had to beat the Hayes horse, Shinn said Invincible Sage’s last run indicated to him that the gelding is now hitting peak form.
“Fourth up now into the sprint, hopefully he can run a career best. I would say the favourite (Ka Ying Rising) will be hard to beat but hopefully we can get some prizemoney.”
Shinn said Invincible Sage was a really good sit and sprint horse and if he can obtain the right barrier and a generous run, he can be extremely effective.
“It’s also great to be riding for David Hall who supported me a lot when I was there,” Shinn said.
Shinn won the 2021 Hong Kong Sprint on Sky Field and finished third on Invincible Sage on the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) undercard in March.
After a successful riding stint in Hong Kong, Shinn announced in early 2022 he would not renew his licence and planned to return to Melbourne where his family is based.
Asked if he’d return to ride in Hong Kong full-time, Shinn replied: “Hard to say. I’m just concentrating on Australia and doing well there.
“I have got great memories of Hong Kong and I’m not going to say never.”
He won three Group 1 features during his Hong Kong stint, two on Russian Emperor and the other on Sky Field.
Shinn will be kept busy on the LONGINES HKIR day with rides on the undercard for Jamie Richards, Douglas Whyte, Caspar Fownes and Mark Newnham.
“For them to show their support and give me rides, it means a lot,” he said. “I’m grateful to all those trainers.”
By Daryl Timms
