Blake Shinn is taking confidence from a Flemington jumpout the form from which has already been franked as he prepares to partner a crowd favourite in this Saturday’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes.
The star jockey will have his first race ride on Alligator Blood in the $750,000 wight-for-age contest at Sandown.
Shinn had his first sit on the gelding in an 800-metre Flemington jumpout two Fridays ago when he held off Elliptical, whom Shinn rode to win Saturday’s Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington, and he excited about the opportunity aboard Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained six-year-old.
“I trialled him at Flemington, which was the first time I got on him, and he beat Elliptical in the trial,” Shinn told RSN927.
“I thought Elliptical trialled particularly well, he’s come out and won the other day, and there was improvement from the trial.
“Alligator Blood is a racehorse and Gai knows how to get the best out of him, so I feel that he’s going to turn up on Saturdayt and run a tremendous race.”
The 1400m Futurity will be Alligator Blood’s first start winning the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington on November 5, when Tim Clark was aboard.
The son of All Too Hard was not quite ready to resume in the Group 1 Orr Stakes at Sandown on February 11, but the Flemington jumpout helped bring him on, which Shinn said was advantageous ahead of what could be a solidly-run Futurity.
Noted on-pacers Gentleman Roy and Tuvalu are also among the 10 Futurity entries, along with established stars including I’m Thunderstruck and Mr Brightside.
“It will be interesting with Gentleman Roy and Alligator Blood, and Tuvalu is there in the mix as well, and I suppose it might come down to barriers,” Shinn said.
“But when you’re on one of Gai Waterhouse’s and Adrian Bott’s you know where they’re going to be, so he’ll be up in the firing line and toughing it out right to the end.”
Alligator Blood is one of three key Group 1 rides at Sandown this weekend with the jockey called up by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for the ride on Blue Diamond second favourite Steel City and last-start Gold Rush winner The Astrologist in the Oakleigh Plate.