Fenway provides sweet redemption for Shinn

Blake Shinn rode a perfect race on Fenway to win the $400,000, Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday defeating First Seal from whom Shinn was sacked after his ride on her in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic two weeks ago.

In further valediction for Shinn he decided to start a careless riding suspension after Saturday to ride Fenway who is trained by his step-father Lee and step-brother Shannon Hope in Victoria.

Shinn sent Fenway forward from barrier 11 and by the time Adrift (NZ) and Damien Oliver led the field in the back straight Shinn had eased Fenway into third place racing outside Miss Interiors and Nick Hall. First Seal and James McDonald were back in seventh one off the rails.

Adrift led the field to the main straight after a good tempo down the back straight and across the top with Amicus and Tim Clark parked outside with Shinn carefully watching tracking Amicus. As they went past the 300m Adrift, racing four out from the rails, had Amicus challenging outside and Fenway looming out her outside. First Seal crucially was 4L in arrears and McDonald was starting to become urgent on her.

Fenway went to the lead and Shinn started the ride of his life as McDonald and First Seal tried desperately to breach the gap. It was still 3L with 300m to run, and as much as First Seal and McDonald tried, and they did make progress, Fenway under Shinn’s considerable urgings went past the line with a short neck to spare.

First Seal was 1L ahead of Thunder Lady (NZ) and Tye Angland with Ballet Suit fourth and Winx fifth.The time was 2.03.27 on the Good 3 track with the final 600m in 34.67. Fenway paid $19.80 on NSW tote and 21.00 on fixed odds.

Shinn returned to emotional scenes as he was greeted by his mother Carol, brother Ryan and step-brother Shannon.

“My First Group 1 for my family it just means so much for my step-dad and step-brother,” said Shinn,

“Unfortunately my Stepdad Lee couldn’t be here today, he is home at Kilmore doing the work I just wish he could be here.

“This is what it’s all about, a fairy tale come true as he has been working his whole life for a moment like this, and for me to be able to bring it to them means the world to me.

“Myself I would not have been in the position where I am today. My step-brother and step-dad they taught me how to ride and this is just a testament to them.

“I could not do it without them and without all their hard work to get a Group 1 for them means the world to me,” he said.

“It most certainly was (a gutsy win) and it’s probably the first time that she has been ridden properly,” said Shannon.

“I thought she worked very good here on Tuesday. We were very fortunate to get the course proper. She’s just ticked all the boxes since she got here.

“The Oaks is certainly in our plans. It’s our long term goal, today was just a bonus,” he said.

Fenway, by High Chaparral out of the Zabeel mare Deedra, was second in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m at Flemington in the spring and she came into the race off a fourth place in the Group 3 Matron Stakes over 1600m at Flemington on March 14th.

Owned by Alpara Lodge, managed by Greg White, she has now won twice from six starts and with a third and three fourths earned stakes of $294,600.