Blake Shinn is looking forward to reuniting with Group 1 winning galloper Antino in Hong Kong.
Shinn was last week given the nod to ride Antino in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on December 8.
The former Hong Kong based rider partnered Antino to a stunning win in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last month but was forced to forfeit the ride through suspension when the gelding ran second to Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 9.
Mark Zahra had the ride at Flemington.
“He’s been targeted at the Hong Kong Mile,” Shinn said.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t ride him in the Champions Mile and Mark Zahra had the ride and he ran a great race behind the champ Mr Brightside.
“I’m excited to be back on him and heading to Hong Kong where I’ve had a lot of luck previously when I was based there.
“It’s great to be heading back there and ride a great horse like Antino and hopefully we can do it for the Aussies.”
Shinn rode for three seasons in the lucrative Hong Kong market before making Melbourne home and last season registered a third win in the Scobie Breasley Medal for riding excellence.
He has previously won four Group 1 races in Hong Kong and believes Antino is up to the task of adding to that tally next month.
“I think he’ll measure right up,” Shinn said.
“He’s got form around Mr Brightside and that Champions Mile was an incredible race of Australian horses and anyone of those horses would be competitive against the best horses in Hong Kong.
“I know his barrier manners let him down a little bit, but if he can reproduce that run, I’m sure he will do us proud.”
Shinn said he had also picked up the ride aboard Invincible Sage in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on the same day.
Invincible Sage, who raced as Thron Bone in Australia, is a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong and prepared by former Melbourne Cup winning trainer David Hall.
“He ran well on the weekend just gone,” Shinn said.
“He is a good sit and sprint style of sprinter and if he can draw a gate, and I know Ka Ying Rising looks hard to beat, but hopefully our horse can run well and pick up some good prize money.”
