Leading Sydney jockey Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Shooting To Win in the 2015 Hobartville Stakes at Royal Randwick on February 14.
Shooting To Win will start his autumn campaign in the 2015 Hobartville Stakes at Royal Randwick next weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
James McDonald steered Shooting To Win to victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but it was revealed last week that he would be unable to ride the Northern Meteor colt during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and Team Snowden have awarded the ride to Shinn after he partnered a three-year-old in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick yesterday.
Shinn was thrilled with the performance of Shooting To Win in his barrier trial victory and he told Sky Racing HQ that he was looking forward to riding the Caulfield Guineas winner when he returns to racing in the Hobartville Stakes.
“He did please me very much,” Shinn said.
“He is obviously the Caulfield Guineas winner in the spring and his form speaks for itself, but he has obviously got to come back this autumn and do it.
“He is a very valuable horse and yesterday’s trial indicated that he has come back in fine order.
“Peter wanted me to make sure that he jumped and came out in a good position and he did everything that we asked.
“He sprinted very quickly and it was quiet a fast heat, the time was very quick.
“He chased a good horse in Echo Gal and beat a good horse in Hallowed Crown, so it was a very good trial.
“He wanted to win, which is a good sign.
“He gave me a great feel and I am very much looking forward to riding him first-up in the Hobartville.”
Shinn missed out on riding Shooting To Win during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he revealed this morning that he has had plenty to do with the colt during his racing career.
The talented hoop partnered Shooting To Win when he made his racing debut with a comfortable two lengths win in the Corporate Members Race Day Maiden (1200m) at Kembla Grange in May last year and Shinn is clearly excited to get under chance on the Group 1 winner in the Hobartville Stakes.
“I have had a fair bit to do with the horse,” Shinn said.
“I rode the horse in his first start for Peter Snowden and unfortunately after that I couldn’t ride him because he didn’t get my weight in the lead-ups to the Golden Rose and I took other commitments.
“He is a lovely horse and I feel that he has mentally made good progression.
“Being a colt you just want to see them go out and perform.”
Shooting To Win is currently available at 2015 Doncaster Mile odds of $8 with Ladbrokes.
