Jockey Blake Shinn is scheduled to take a significant step towards his return to racing when he participates in the Flemington jump-outs this Friday.
Shinn is booked to ride War Machine for the prominent Lindsay Park training establishment of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes on Friday, in addition to four other mounts.
He has also secured rides from the stables of Leon and Troy Corstens, and Will Larkin.
Shinn has not competed in a race since sustaining a broken leg in a fall from She’s Got Pizzazz at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Following an extensive rehabilitation period, he gradually improved his fitness, initially riding trackwork for his partner Lucy Yeomans before progressively increasing his workload for outside stables.
Friday’s jump-outs represent the next logical progression in his campaign to return to race riding.
“Each stage has been ticked off and now we’re at the next stage, jump-outs and trials,” Shinn commented.
“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 present with Yeomans in the winner’s enclosure, celebrating the victory of Parvati Party in the MRC Membership Made Of Moments Handicap (2125m) at Sandown on Wednesday.
He indicated that should Yeomans have a midweek runner prior to his anticipated return, he might be in action earlier.
“I will play that by ear,” Shinn stated.
“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.”
The victory of Parvati Party marked Yeomans’ ninth win since establishing 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.”
Keep an eye on the latest racing betting markets for Shinn’s potential return races.
