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Leading jockeys Blake Shinn and Kerrin McEvoy are in the clear for their important Group One rides on Saturday after proving their fitness this morning.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Shinn and McEvoy suffered minor injuries in mishaps at the Rosehill barrier trials on Tuesday and stood down from their race engagements on Wednesday and Thursday to ensure they were fit for the weekend.
Shinn, who had a lucky escape after it was feared he had suffered a broken ankle in a fall at the Rosehill trials, will ride at Gosford today after he tested his ankle by riding trackwork on Friday morning.
Shinn said the ankle had responded well to treatment and he is looking forward to taking the ride on Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes bat Warwick Farm on Saturday.
Pinker Pinker arrived in Sydney early on Friday morning and is stabled at Warwick Farm.
Trainer Greg Eurell reported that the mare had travelled well and was free in her action when he took her for exercise after the float trip.
McEvoy also rode trackwork today and reported that he had no concerns with his bruised hip after being kicked by a horse at the Rosehill trials.
McEvoy has a strong list of rides in the feature races at Flemington tomorrow for the Peter Snowden stable including Beaded in the $1 million Newmarket Handicap.
Sydney star Rain Affair arrived in Melbourne on Thursday to prepare for his first Melbourne start in the Newmarket and his trainer Joe Pride had no concerns when he had trot and canter at Flemington on Friday morning.
A late arrival for the Flemington meeting will be Singapore-based jockey Stephen Baster. He will ride at Kranji tonight and will fly into Melbourne on Saturday morning for the ride on Master Of Design in the Newmarket.
The Peter Moody-trained Cute Emily is an important early scratching from the Surround Stakes at the Warwick Farm meeting. She is staying in Melbourne to run at Flemington.
Coliseo has also been scratched from his Warwick Farm engagement to run in Sunday's $200,000 Canberra Cup.