Shinn replaces Hutchings aboard Chocante
Sydney-based jockey Blake Shinn has been booked to ride New Zealand gelding Chocante in Saturday’s Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
He replaces former Kiwi rider Rory Hutchings who rode the Stephen Marsh-trained stayer into third in the Chelmsford Stakes first-up behind Winx.
That was Chocante’s first run back from a short spell after he won the Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben in June. The Kingston Town Stakes is run at set weights and penalties and Chocante will carry 57kg and he will be suited by the step from 1600m to 2000m.
‘‘He seems to have taken the expected improvement from his first run and we can’t fault him at all,’’ Marsh said. ‘‘It’s good to be able to get a top rider like Blake on board and he’s a chance to stay on for his next start in the Metropolitan.
‘‘It’s no reflection on Rory but he would have been battling to make the 55kg we think we will get in that race. Blake is going to gallop him in the morning [Tuesaday] and get a feel of him for Saturday.’’
Group I-winning Kiwi 3-yearold Summer Passage runner-up to Invader in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes in the autumn, will be ridden by Mark Zahra in Saturday’s Danehill Stakes.
The Lance O’sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained colt, who won the Group I Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie in March, is being set for a Melbourne spring campaign and will have his first start this campaign in the Flemington Group II race on Saturday.
New Zealand’s leading trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will be out to build on an exciting start to spring targets in Victoria when Jon Snow has his second run in this campaign.
The stayer went a slashing race in a strong 1400m event first-up and steps to 1600m at Flemington on Saturday in the weight-for-age Makybe Diva Stakes.
Stephen Baster will retain the ride in the Group I A$750,000 feature and the trainers are pleased with the progress made by Jon Snow.
‘‘The distance should suit him better this weekend and he has done well since his fresh effort,’’ Forsman said. The gelding holds nominations for the Cox Plate, Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.