Bailey Kinninmont gets first taste of Flemington

Mature age apprentice Bailey Kinninmont hopes to parlay his first metropolitan success into victory at the home of the Melbourne Cup.

The 28-year-old rides for the first time at Flemington when he partners Lake Vostok in the RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final (1600m) on Saturday.

Kinninmont landed his first city winner aboard the Gavin Bedggood-trained Silent Shares at Sandown on Wednesday and is looking forward to partnering the Luke Oliver-trained Lake Vostok in Saturday’s contest.

Lake Vostok won the corresponding race last year with Rose Hammond in the saddle.

Hammond partners Impending Shadow on Saturday.

Kinninmont, comes from a racing family, and grew up in Perth.

His father was a jockey and now works for the Hong Kong Jockey Club as their ‘Racing Control Manager’ at Conghua Racecourse in China, while mother Kelly works for Simon Miller in Perth.

Kinninmont said he had no interest in riding until he turned 18 and was sent to Melbourne, firstly with Julien Welsh and then Mick Kent before gaining his apprenticeship.

It has been with Oliver that the majority of his winners – 11 of his 44 – have come for.

“Mick Kent is my boss, but Luke is probably my biggest supporter,” Kinninmont said.

“He throws me on everything, and I ride a lot of work for him, so he’s almost a second boss and hopefully we can repay the faith.”

While yet to ride Lake Vostok in a race, Kinninmont did all the mare’s jump-outs leading into her first-up seventh at Flemington on June 20.

“She’s going great,” Kinninmont said.

“I’ve had a lot to do with her the whole way through but couldn’t ride her first-up as I couldn’t ride in town, but she’s definitely improved on the first-up run and I think she goes in with a real winning chance.

“I think she’s an open class mare, building through the grades, so she’s been unlucky not to have won a few more.”

Kinninmont will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, and it happens the family will be in Melbourne to help him celebrate.

“Dad is coming over from China, Mum from Perth, brother, cousins, uncles,” he said.

“It’s my birthday on Sunday and that’s why they’re all coming over, but the race just so happens to be the day before, so that would be a nice present.”