Jockey Blake Shinn has been confirmed to take the ride on leading contender Good Standing, when the talented colt lines up for the 2016 Ladbrokes Classic (2000m) at Caulfield this weekend.
Good Standing will back up in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Classic at Caulfield. Photo: Steve Hart
Good Standing has more than stamped himself as a colt to follow and an exciting prospect for trainer James Cummings through only eight career starts; posting one win, two minors and a number of strong performances at black type level.
Hugh Bowman partnered the son of Artie Schiller to his credible seventh in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last weekend, and Cummings is confident that the booking of Shinn is an equally positive move for his first run over 2000m in the Ladbrokes Classic 2016.
“He has been set to run in the race fifth-up all campaign,” Cummings told Racing Victoria.
“I want to give him the opportunity to run out to 2000m and he has come through the Guineas bright and sound and his run there was very good, only beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths.”
Trialling well in the lead-up to his competitive debut, Good Standing mustered a smart turn of foot in the final straight at Rosehill to finish second behind Yankee Rose in the Golden Gift (1100m), before being returned to the paddock with a view towards major autumn two-year-old targets.
Again producing good work leading into his autumn campaign, the colt out of Elahi delivered a smart field a comfortable defeat in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) first-up on February 27th, in what was undoubtedly a career-best performance to date.
Failing to handle the late pace when tenth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), Good Standing returned to the paddock after placing fifth in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Day 1 of The Championships.
Clearly requiring a run when ninth in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) first-up this time on August 27th, Good Standing showed his class when fifth in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m), and finished third behind Impending and Divine Prophet in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) on September 24th, in what was his only other start prior to the Caulfield Guineas.
The 2016 Ladbrokes Classic field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, today (Wednesday October 12th).
