Jockeys Blake Shinn and Kerrin McEvoy are confident they will be fit to ride on Saturday despite both having heavy tumbles at the Rosehill barrier trials yesterday.
Shinn hit the turf near the 600m on the unraced two year old Calamba in heat seven while McEvoy parted company with the Peter Snowden trained Chiaramonte on the way to the barriers in heat twelve.
McEvoy escaped with bruising while Shinn was transported to the Westmead Hospital after initially fearing he had broken his ankle but was later discharged after x-rays cleared him of any breaks.
Darley’s number rider McEvoy was thrown into the fence when Chiaramonte whipped around on his way to the starting gates but says he will be right to ride at Flemington on Saturday.
“I’m just a bit sore,” McEvoy said. “The horse whipped around going to the barrier.
“He stopped before the fence but threw me into the fence. I’ll have a quiet day today and see how I pull up.”
Shinn and McEvoy had to relinquish their rides at Wyong today but Shinn’s manager Tony Crisafi said he is hoping to be fit to ride at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
”The ankle is badly bruised but Blake is confident he will be back at the track on Thursday morning and should be right to ride on Saturday,” Crisafi said.
Shinn is having his first ride on Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker in the Group 1 $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and will have intense physio over the next couple of days to be fit to ride.
The Greg Eurell trained mare was having her first run back when a solid second to King Mufhasa in the Group 1 $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25.
Pinker Pinker drew the outside of the field of nine with the Chris Waller trio of Rangirangdoo (6), Shoot Out (5) and Danleigh (3) all drawing favourably.
Victorian jockey Linda Meech has retained the ride on last start winner Mr Make Believe who is stepping up Group 1 level for the first time.
The Peter Moody trained five year old led all the way for Meech in taking out the Endeavour Foundation Recycled Clothing Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill last week.
McEvoy has a full book of nine rides at Flemington headed by the Peter Snowden trained Beaded in the Newmarket and the Bart Cummings trained Illo in the Group 1 $1m Dubai Australian Cup (2000m).
