Latest news with #BlakeShinn
News.com.au
a day ago
- General
- News.com.au
Craig Williams prioritises Queensland carnival Group 1s over Melbourne premiership chase
Champion jockey Craig Williams has declared any pursuit of a 10th Melbourne premiership would not be at the expense of current Queensland winter carnival commitments. Williams has key rides in Brisbane on Wednesday and Saturday respectively, with Group 1 bids on Let's Fly (Queensland Oaks), Kimochi (Kingsford Smith Cup) and Party Crasher (Queensland Derby). The 82-time Group 1 winner is likely to ride in Queensland for up to three of the next four Saturdays, with Tatt's Tiara options yet to be locked down. Williams, who has seven mounts at Doomben on Wednesday, including Spicy Martini in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic, a Stradbroke Handicap qualifier, has ridden 55 winners in Melbourne this season. His next opportunity to eat into a 12-win deficit on champion jockey Blake Shinn is King's Birthday Monday at Mornington. 'I've got a mother, I've got a wife (and) I've got a manager, three people that (tell me where to go),' Williams said. 'I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I had a bit of time off with a suspension recently, and I'm happy to ride wherever he (manager) gets me to ride. 'We always look forward to the (Melbourne premiership race) and I guess now we're in a position where it's definitely a realistic goal, but again, my manager tells me where to go.' • Gelagotis camp taking up the fight to MND Shinn, stuck on 67 winners, was poised to claim a second Melbourne premiership in three seasons – third overall – before an injury setback (foot) last week at Cranbourne jumpouts. Williams has eight weeks officially to surpass Shinn but the nine-time champion jockey had only planned to ride through to July 5 – Flemington Finals Race Day – before a short break. The last Melbourne metro meeting for the 2024-25 season is July 30 at Sandown. Williams is slated to return to Ukraine next month on another humanitarian aid mission. Williams and Ukrainian-born wife Larysa the past three years led campaigns to raise more than $2m, primarily for first aid and medical supplies, to support the war against Russia. The 48-year-old conceded the lure of another premiership loomed large, at least for the next month. 'There's no doubt, I've always had a focus point about the championship,' Williams said. 'It's one of those goals every rider strives to go for … obviously it's going to be a consideration when my manager and I work out our schedule for the next period of time. 'I'm really happy where I'm at, at the moment, and I'm loving what I'm doing, so my manager says 'Craig you're going here' then I'm turning up, whatever the weather, I'm happy to be there.' The late Roy Higgins and Bill Duncan won a record 11 Victorian metropolitan premierships apiece, while legendary jockey Damien Oliver retired with 10 titles under the belt. Williams last topped the Melbourne premiership table in 2020.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Group 1-winning jockey Luke Currie to undergo knee surgery, faces six weeks on sidelines
Surgery will halt jockey Luke Currie's impressive recent form. Currie rode a double for the Hayes brothers at last Saturday's Caulfield meeting to accompany his double at Flemington on May 17 as he built a solid partnership with the Lindsay Park operation. However, a knee issue sustained in a mishap will force Currie to soon go under the surgeon's knife. 'I've done the meniscus in it at the jumpouts,' Currie said. 'It's been sore all the time and they said, at some point, you've got to get it done.' The meniscus acts as a 'shock absorbing' cartilage between femur and tibia bones, producing pain and stiffness in the knee when damaged. Currie said it was the second time he had undergone the minor surgery. 'I did the other one but worse when one flipped over in the gates years ago but they said this one has got a tear in it and had other wear and tear from over the years,' he said. Currie said he expected to be away from racing for about six weeks. However, he said the operation was necessary in order to have him ready for the richer period of the year. 'I just thought, I was always staying here getting going again, so it was the right time to have it done so I'll be right for the spring,' Currie said. Currie has ridden 22 winners in Melbourne in the 2024/25 season. Currie will join Melbourne jockeys' premiership leader Blake Shinn on the sidelines. Shinn last week confirmed he would miss the remainder of the season after sustaining heavy bone bruising in an incident at the Cranbourne jumpouts last month.
Courier-Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Jockey Blake Shinn out of Queensland winter carnival after jumpout incident
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Champion jockey Blake Shinn has turned his attention to the Spring Carnival after being sidelined with 'heavy bone bruising' from an incident at jumpouts last Monday. Shinn has 'worked tirelessly' since the setback, in a bid to rehabilitate the injury in time to fulfil Group 1 commitments in Brisbane on Saturday, without success. 'At this stage, it's too early to determine an exact return date,' Shinn posted in a statement on X. 'I will reassess the injury with doctors in three weeks and from there, make plan for my return to riding.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Shinn has ridden 139 Victorian winners season including 67 at metropolitan level. 'While it's incredibly disappointing to end the season this way, my health and physical wellbeing must take priority,' Shinn said. 'My focus now firmly shifts to preparing for the upcoming Spring Carnival, which is just around the corner. 'I've put in a tremendous amount of work this season, and although I've fallen short of some personal goals, I remain determined. 'I'll reset, regroup, and be back – bigger and better – for the new racing season.' • Japanese stars on Melbourne Spring Carnival hit list Shinn, the reigning back-to-back Scobie Breasley medallist, Victorian racing's highest individual honour, set out to ride 200 winners this season. His tally nationwide, at the time of injury, stood at 150 winners with a month in the season to go. Shinn's haul for the season included three Group 1 winners and another 22 stakes races. Originally published as Jockey Blake Shinn out of Queensland winter carnival after sustaining heavy bone bruising in jumpout incident
News.com.au
6 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Jockey Blake Shinn out of Queensland winter carnival after sustaining heavy bone bruising in jumpout incident
Champion jockey Blake Shinn has turned his attention to the Spring Carnival after being sidelined with 'heavy bone bruising' from an incident at jumpouts last Monday. Shinn has 'worked tirelessly' since the setback, in a bid to rehabilitate the injury in time to fulfil Group 1 commitments in Brisbane on Saturday, without success. 'At this stage, it's too early to determine an exact return date,' Shinn posted in a statement on X. 'I will reassess the injury with doctors in three weeks and from there, make plan for my return to riding.' Shinn has ridden 139 Victorian winners season including 67 at metropolitan level. 'While it's incredibly disappointing to end the season this way, my health and physical wellbeing must take priority,' Shinn said. 'My focus now firmly shifts to preparing for the upcoming Spring Carnival, which is just around the corner. 'I've put in a tremendous amount of work this season, and although I've fallen short of some personal goals, I remain determined. 'I'll reset, regroup, and be back – bigger and better – for the new racing season.' — Blake Shinn (@blake_shinn) May 29, 2025 Shinn, the reigning back-to-back Scobie Breasley medallist, Victorian racing's highest individual honour, set out to ride 200 winners this season. His tally nationwide, at the time of injury, stood at 150 winners with a month in the season to go. Shinn's haul for the season included three Group 1 winners and another 22 stakes races.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Trainer Emma-Lee Browne confident Statuario can reverse result on Femminile in Queensland Derby rematch
They're the Pakenham pair ready to pack a powerful punch in Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Victorian horses Statuario and Femminile delivered a thriller in this month's South Australian Derby, with the Phillip Stokes-trained filly Femminile holding on to win the major at $19 odds. • Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg Polson and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! Statuario's co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne is hoping they can again jag the quinella on Saturday, although this time she wants her grey gelding to take the chocolates. Blake Shinn, the Doomben Cup winner on Queensland hero Antino, will jump aboard Femminile while John Allen will ride Statuario, the $6 early favourite for the 2400m race ahead of King Of Thunder ($7), Party Crasher ($8) and Femminile ($9.50). Browne, who trains in partnership with husband David, said Statuario had travelled 'super' to the Gold Coast and would be primed to turn the tables on Femminile in the Queensland Derby. • 'You don't know how they're going to cope with the travel until they've had that race-day pressure but he hasn't missed a feed and his weight is super,' she said while enjoying an outing with her family at Gold Coast tourist attraction Dreamworld. Statuario was the warm favourite for the SA Derby but got caught behind horses on the inside of the track before eventually finding space and motoring home to finish just three-quarters of a length behind Femminile. They're a tight-knit racing community at Pakenham and the rivalry between stables is definitely more friendly than fierce. Stokes, who grew up at a cattle station near Marree in northern South Australia, even helped arrange the transport to Queensland for both his horses and Statuario. 'You've got to have everything go right in a Group 1 and you've got to have a bit of luck on your side,' Browne said about the $1m SA Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 3. 'But at least it was a Pakenham victory – we've taken that, with Phillip Stokes being from both places. 'We're incredibly lucky down at Pakenham, it's a fantastic group and we all support each other. It makes a difference – it's a good atmosphere. 'Phillip pretty much organised my trip up here so that's been incredibly helpful. 'We're hoping we can quinella the Queensland Derby too but we still want to turn the tables this time.' Browne said the four-week gap between races was ideal for Statuario and she was encouraged by the path of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Warmonger, who finished runner-up in last year's SA Derby before winning the Queensland edition. 'The way he (Statuario) travelled home from Adelaide and the way he bounced around the track made us think 'OK let's see how he pushes on',' she said. 'It was good to have the four weeks between races because you could really see how he was doing. 'We're very happy with the horse, he's had a super prep. It'd be a cherry on top if he goes well this Saturday.'
