Jockey Blake Shinn is teaming up with premier trainer Peter Moody at Warwick Farm tomorrow to help re-establish himself among the top riders in Australia.
Shinn who has not long returned from a lengthy ban for betting offences has been booked to ride Moody’s promising three year old Moment Of Change in the Group 2 $175,000 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m).
“I couldn’t be happier with how things are going and the support I’m getting from owners and trainers,” Shinn said.
“I feel like I am riding better, I’m more focused and very determined to get back to the top and just keep trying to make every post a winner.”
“I’m making the most of the opportunities which is important.”
Moody has thrown Moment Of Change to the wolves and he will find out one way or the other if his high opinion of the three year old is justified.
A winner of only two races at Mutora and a midweek at Sandown, Moment Of Change will have to compete against Group 1 winners Manawanui, the winner of the $1m Tooheys New Golden Rose (1200m) at Rosehill and the $400,000 Inglis Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) winner Doctor Doom.
Bookmakers have followed Moody’s lead and have installed the Barely A Moment three year old second favourite at $3.60 behind Manawanui ($2.40).
Shinn has had a feel of Moment Of Change in a 900m Rosehill barrier trial and liked what he saw.
“I’ve got no doubt that he’s going to be right up to the best three year olds,” Shinn said.
“I got a line through the trial with Hot Snitzel who finished 2.2 lengths behind Sepoy and Foxwedge down the straight.”
“He’s going to be very competitive on Saturday I would imagine.”
Shinn gave Moment Of Change a fairly decent trial without fully testing him on a rain affected track at Rosehill but feels he did enough narrowly holding out Hot Snitzel whom he will also be meeting in the Royal Sovereign.
As well as several other good rides at Warwick Farm tomorrow, Shinn is anxiously looking forward to Caulfield next week when he will partner the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) third favourite Jimando for trainer Tony McEvoy.
Shinn said don’t be disappointed with Jimando’s last start third in the Listed $100,000 Emirates Airline Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield when beaten less than a length behind the David Hayes trained Mama’s Choice.
“I was very happy with his first up run,” Shinn said.
“Obviously he is going to have a gear change into the Blue Diamond.”
“I’ll probably be riding him just off the speed so I can’t wait to get down there. I think he’s going to be great winning chance.”
