Jockey Blake Shinn is poised to take a significant stride in his return to racing, scheduled to participate in the Flemington jump-outs this Friday.
Shinn has been engaged by the Lindsay Park training partnership of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes to pilot War Machine on Friday, alongside four additional rides.
He also has commitments for trainers Leon and Troy Corstens, and Will Larkin.
It has been quite some time since Shinn last competed in a race, having sustained a broken leg during a fall from She’s Got Pizzazz at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Following an extensive rehabilitation period, he gradually improved his physical condition, initially riding trackwork for his partner Lucy Yeomans before steadily increasing his workload for various stables.
Friday’s jump-outs represent the next phase in his determined effort to return to competitive race riding.
“Each stage has been ticked off and now we’re at the next stage, jump-outs and trials,” Shinn stated.
“I’ll do Friday, then maybe one day next week.
“There are trials on the (July) 16th at Caulfield and that will determine where I kick off, whether it’s the 25th or wait a week for August 1.”
Shinn was recently seen celebrating with Yeomans in the winner’s circle after Parvati Party secured victory in the MRC Membership Made Of Moments Handicap (2125m) at Sandown on Wednesday.
He indicated that if Yeomans were to have a midweek runner before his planned return, he might be back in action sooner.
“I will play that by ear,” Shinn commented.
“But in saying that, when I broke my neck, my first day back was at Randwick and I rode two winners and my first ride back, I won on Tom Melbourne.
“If it pans out, I’ll have a meeting before, but I’m in a good spot and I’m getting excited as all the hard work is done.
“We’re at the pointy end.”
Parvati Party’s win marked Yeomans’ ninth success since launching her own stable, with her first runner appearing last September.
“We’ve only got 10 in work but only three or four up and racing,” Yeomans shared.
“That’s our ninth winner, and Blake and I set a little target of trying to get double figures by the end of the season, so hopefully we can get one more winner by then and we’ll be rapt.”
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