It was a case of three winners and what might’ve been for Hong Kong-bound jockey Blake Shinn after winning the Group Three Healy Stakes aboard Brave Song at Eagle Farm.
The victory followed earlier wins for Shinn aboard Kordia in the Winning Edge Presentations Stakes and Vega One in the Stella Artois Plate.
But he was narrowly denied a quartet of winners when Pohutukawa was beaten a short half head in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara 40 minutes before Brave Song’s victory.
Apart from Pohutukawa, Shinn also finished close second aboard Deadly Choices and Shogun Sun while Big Duke finished runner-up in the Tattersall’s Cup although he was comfortably beaten by Vow And Declare.
“It would’ve been fantastic to win the big one – that would’ve been the icing on the cake but three winners and a few seconds, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to leave Queensland,” Shinn said.
Basing himself in the northern state since late April, Shinn has been delighted with the level of success he has enjoyed.
He will return to Sydney before embarking on a six-month riding contract in Hong Kong in August.
Brave Song, the $3 favourite, recovered from early interference to defeat Amanaat ($17) by a long neck with Intuition ($26) three quarters of a length away third.
“He’s a very talented horse and put the writing on the wall this prep with runs behind Trekking and he deserved that win today,” Shinn said.
“He got a lot of crowding from outside runners early and I ended up further back than I would’ve liked but I had confidence in his sprint so I let him relax and the gaps came when I needed.
“It was a sensational win.”
Glen Boss said Amanaat was travelling like a winner on the home turn but felt the firmness of the track in the straight.
