Daily News Wrap

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Shinn cops suspension

Blake Shinn endured a nightmare day at Flemington on Saturday. The jockey not only lost a dead-heat in the stewards’ room after they deemed he had used his whip too many times, but he was also slapped with a $2000 fine and a 12-meeting suspension for the incident.

Stewards lodged their own protest after Invincible Caviar (I Am Invincible) and My Yankee Girl (American Pharoah {USA}) could not be separated at the end of the Festive Season Sprint.

On reviewing the film, Shinn was found to have used the whip on 12 occasions prior to the 100-metre mark, six times in consecutive stride, and in all on 27 occasions in the final 300 metres.

Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

The only previous time a protest has been upheld in Australia on a whip breach was at the Sunshine Coast in 2016. Cram said there had been no change of policy or direction from Victorian stewards who treat each case on its merits and Saturday's occurrence was a gross breach of the whip rules.

“We believe by doing so, he gained an advantage,” Cram said. “We have had some breaches of the whip (rule) previously that have been close, and stewards have discussed it (a protest) before. But this is the first time one has been lodged.”

Shinn, meanwhile, said he had hit the horse too many times in the ‘heat of battle’ and acknowledged he had to change his ways after returning from Hong Kong, where there are no restrictions on the use of the whip.

Darci La Bella sails to third stakes win

The Allan Sharrock-trained Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) added a third consecutive stakes win to her CV when she triumphed in the G2 Challenge S.

The daughter of Darci Brahma (NZ) made it four wins in a row, three of them at stakes level, as she downed Group 1 winner Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in a driving finish to the Group 2 feature at Trentham.

Darci La Bella will now head to the spelling paddock with a shot at the highest level looming for her in the spring.

“She can go in the paddock now, but I think she could be a Group 1 winner in the spring next year with some more maturity,” Sharrock said.

“She has so much natural ability and can run on all types of tracks so a race like the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings is a race I would like to target for her.”

First stakes win for Ashford Street

Ashford Street (Moshe) landed his first stakes race when he took the Listed Kensington S. at Flemington on Saturday.

Trained by Ken Elford, who was tasting black-type success at Flemington for the first time, the gelding showed enormous heart to beat Yulong Command (Written Tycoon) by 0.1l, while Colsridge (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) was 1.3l away in third.

Ashford Street wins the Listed Kensington S. at Flemington | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale

“The horse has taken me on a wonderful journey. I'm so pleased with him,” Elford said. “He'll probably have a break soon and go to the Wangoom. That's the aim, to win the Wangoom.

“He's good and sound and we look after him. He's honest and he's good to do anything with. He's the best horse to come through my stable.”

Five winners for Spirit Of Boom

Eureka Stud-based sire Spirit Of Boom enjoyed a brilliant day as he chalked up a magnificent five winners.

Despite his son Golden Boom losing his unbeaten record, his other progeny were in unassailable form, with his 3-year-old daughter Straight Alphas breaking her maiden at Esk, while his 3-year-old son, Cripps Tonite, prevailed at the Gold Coast.

Meanwhile at Eagle Farm, Chatty Lady landed the fifth race of her career and Bellevita and Rowdash landed their respective contests at Atherton and Toowoomba.

Maurice chalks up four

Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Jpn) was represented by four winners on Saturday, with the quartet headed by Ausbred Rising Sun, who broke his maiden at Newcastle Beaumont.

Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud

The stallion was represented by a winner at Randwick as Global Ausbred saluted the judge at the Sydney track, while 4-year-old mares Takara and Cairdeas landed their respective races at Colac and the Gold Coast.

Another good weekend for Vinnie

Yarraman Park’s resident Champion Sire I Am Invincible enjoyed yet another good weekend with his runners, siring four winners.

His daughters I Am Me and Invincible Caviar looked stakes winners in the making as they added wins to the records at Randwick and Flemington respectively.

Meanwhile, Eighth Immortal delivered his connections a win at Moree and Unassailable saluted the judge at Moree.

Quick back up not an issue for Superium

After doing his best work late when fifth to Sky Command (Deep Field) at Listed level last weekend, Superium (Verrazano {USA}) relished a distance rise to 1400 metres to scoot through along the inside and claim Saturday's December H. at Randwick on Saturday.

Trained by Team Hawkes, the gelding nailed Coal Crusher (Turffontein) in the final bounds to score by a half-head with Cotehele (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) another 0.2l further back in third.

“He needed every inch of that 1400 (metres) today,” Lloyd said. “It was a very good run last week, they came up with the plan to back him up and it paid off very well.”

The win was a timely update for the gelding’s Rubick half-brother, who will be offered by Amarina Farm as Lot 25 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale next year.

Magic Millions plan for Diamonds

Chris Bieg has revealed that Diamonds (Rich Enuff) will now chase riches on the Gold Coast with the daughter of Rich Enuff set to contest either the Magic Millions Sprint or the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares on January 14.

The mare has snared Listed wins on her previous two starts in South Australia and Bieg is looking forward to seeing how she can perform in Queensland.

“We’ve got to run her in better races because of her rating. She’s racing in great form and has learned to settle in her races,” Bieg told Racing.com.

Daily News Wrap