John O’Shea produced another smart two-year-old in Don’t Blink at Canterbury on Saturday to deny Peter Robl a victory in his first ride back from a year-long ban.
Two weeks after O’Shea unveiled autumn prospect Faustus, Don’t Blink ($1.60 fav) did everything right on debut against a depleted field and powered to a one length success over the Robl-ridden Diamond Start ($3.70) in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1100m).
Don’t Blink and Diamond Start gapped the other two runners with Lady Corleone ($10) eight lengths away in third.
O’Shea said the daughter of Redoute’s Choice would be in the paddock on Monday and return to chase autumn riches.
“She’ll go to the Widden Stakes and try to get some black type early,” O’Shea said.
“I think the Silver Slipper as well will be races where she will be very competitive. Depending on her performances there we’ll try to then give her one run into the (Golden) Slipper.
“She’ll probably follow the same path as Elite Falls did this year.”
The O’Shea-trained Elite Falls was second in the Widden and Silver Slipper. The filly then won the Reisling Stakes and was third in the Golden Slipper.
Don’t Blink was quick out of the gates to take up the running and fought off Diamond Start in the heavy conditions in a professional performance.
“It’s a big challenge for them coming here on an extremely heavy track,” O’Shea said.
“But she’s a very professional filly that bangs out of the gates and puts herself there and travels well. She probably just knocked up the last little bit but she was entitled to.”
While it wasn’t a winning return for Robl, he was just happy to be back.
Robl and fellow jockey and friend Blake Shinn served 12-month bans for betting on races.
“That was good. It blew the cobwebs out a bit,” Robl said.
“It’s great to be back.”
Shinn’s comeback has been put back about a month as he continues to recuperate from a broken leg suffered at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day last year.
He was at Canterbury to support Robl.
“Today is not about me, it’s about Pete having his return. We’re here with his family to support him and it’s a very exciting day,” Shinn said.
AAP TURF
