Wexford’s faith in Shinn

The Kiwis may have one hand on the Australian Derby, but a rare two-year-old raid across the Tasman ‘‘is a different mountain to climb’’ for Wexford Stables as cotrainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott eye a Sires’ Produce Stakes heist.

On the advice of gun Sydney rider Blake Shinn – who partnered the $800,000 yearling Summer Passage to a last-start Group I win in New Zealand – O’Sullivan and Scott will provide the wildcard in the $1 million major on the opening day of The Championships.

It will come just 40 minutes before Gingernuts or Jon Snow are tipped to return the Derby to New Zealand, but Scott has likened Summer Passage’s task to a different one altogether against the precocious Australian twoyear-olds. ‘‘It’s a different mountain to climb against the two-yearolds,’’ Scott said. ‘‘He’s an Australian-bred at least and that’s got to give us half a chance.

‘‘We just thought we’d come and have a go and put our toe in the water. ’’

Summer Passage was bought and is raced by Hermitage Park, whose green-and-red colours have been carried to a string of feature race wins around Australia.

The colt will have to defy a legion of Golden Slipper graduates who will take on the second leg of the two-year-olds’ triple crown – headed by the second, third and fourth placegetters in Frolic, Tulip and Menari – as well as Todman Stakes hero Gunnison.

‘‘It’s a pretty open and even bunch [of Australian two-yearolds] and there’s no real standout,’’ Scott said. ‘‘I suppose you can look at [the Golden Slipper] in two ways; yes, they’ve had a pretty tough run, but their fitness levels are incredibly high.

‘‘There’s every chance it could be a heavy track on Saturday and we haven’t had that heavy mileage in our legs. It could come in handy on the weekend. It’s a twoedged sword that one.’’

Shinn’s recommendation proved crucial in convincing O’Sullivan and Scott to land in Sydney on Monday night after the jockey’s hit-and-run mission to win the Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie a fortnight ago.

Shinn will honour a commitment to Gunnison with champion Hong Kong-based rider Zac Purton picking up the mount on Summer Passage. Sportsbet are keeping Summer Passage safe at $13 with Frolic a $4.80 favourite.