Jockey Blake Shinn will look to add to his recent Group 1 haul during the Brisbane Winter Carnival when he partners Molly Bloom in the Queensland Oaks.
In the past two weeks, Shinn has captured the Doomben Cup on Bois D’Argent and last Saturday the Queensland Derby on Warmonger.
On Saturday, Shinn returns to Brisbane to ride Molly Bloom in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m), returning the following week to ride Bittercreek in the JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m), at Eagle Farm.
“It had been a bit of a frustrating run there, so a couple of Group 1’s in the last couple of weeks is very satisfying,” Shinn said of his recent success.
“I love going to Carnivals. That’s where we’re all striving to be. It takes its toll, but that’s what we’re in it for, so you’ve got to take the good with the bad.
“We’re getting good rides at the Carnivals, having winners in Sydney, Hong Kong, Perth, Brisbane.”
Shinn said he got an extra buzz out of winning on Warmonger last Saturday.
Not only was the gelding’s win by 10-½ lengths one of the easiest in a feature race, it was also Shinn’s first in a Derby.
Shinn explained he had finished close seconds in the Hong Kong Derby and the Australian Derby, so to notch a first success was something special.
“I really enjoyed that win,” Shinn said.
“That was my first Derby. I ran second in the Hong Kong Derby, the Australian Derby, so I had been knocking on the door in Derbies this season, and close.
“Derbies are hard races to win. They’re great races, so it was good, really good, especially when you put a lot of thought and planning into races, you get a buzz out of it.”
Shinn now has 29 Group 1 wins to his credit, which includes four in Hong Kong and one in New Zealand, and would like to add to that tally on Saturday.
His mount Molly Bloom won the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas last November and at her most recent outing finished fifth in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 25.
“She ran well in The Rose without much luck,” Shinn said.
“I would like to get on a bit firmer track, but she will be right there. She’s a classy filly.
“I think it’s important that she settles well to run the distance.
“The ride will be important from my behalf, but she has the ability to win, so it would be nice to win one, three weeks in a row.”
Shinn won’t jump from the widest gate in the Oaks as he did aboard Warmonger in the Derby.
Molly Bloom has drawn barrier 10 in the 18-horse field plus five emergencies.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott -trained filly will jump from gate eight if the emergencies do not gain a start.
