Jockey Blake Shinn will take an important step on the comeback trail when he rides at the Flemington jump-outs on Friday.
Shinn is booked to ride War Machine for the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes on Friday along with four other mounts.
He has also picked up a ride for Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin.
Shinn has not ridden in a race since breaking a leg in a fall from She’s Got Pizzazz at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
He underwent a long rehabilitation before gradually improving his fitness, firstly riding work for partner Lucy Yeomans and then gradually increasing that workload for outside stables.
Friday’s jump-outs are the next progression in his bid to return to race riding.
“Each stage has been ticked off and now we’re at the next stage, jump-outs and trials,” Shinn said.
“I’ll do Friday, then maybe one day next week.
“There are trials on the (July) 16th at Caulfield and that will determine where I kick off, whether it’s the 25th or wait a week for August 1.”
Shinn was in the winner’s enclosure with Yeomans celebrating the victory of Parvati Party in the MRC Membership Made Of Moments Handicap (2125m) at Sandown on Wednesday.
He said if Yeomans had a midweek runner prior to his expected return, he may be in action earlier.
“I will play that by ear,” Shinn said.
“But in saying that, when I broke my neck, my first day back was at Randwick and I rode two winners and my first ride back, I won on Tom Melbourne.
“If it pans out, I’ll have a meeting before, but I’m in a good spot and I’m getting excited as all the hard work is done.
“We’re at the pointy end.”
Parvati Party’s victory was Yeoman’s ninth victory since establishing her own stable and having her first runner last September.
“We’ve only got 10 in work but only three or four up and racing,” Yeomans said.
“That’s our ninth winner, and Blake and I set a little target of trying to get double figures by the end of the season, so hopefully we can get one more winner by then and we’ll be rapt.”
