Blake Shinn lands second straight Breasley Medal
Jockey Blake Shinn has been announced the recipient of a second straight Scobie Breasley Medal for riding excellence in Victoria.
The Scobie Breasley Medal is awarded on a 3-2-1 voting basis by Racing Victoria Stewards for the best ride at each of the metropolitan meetings throughout the season.
Shinn, who finished second to Damian Lane on the Victorian Jockeys’ premiership, polled 72 votes to lead home Lane by just four votes and claim a third victory in the Scobie Breasley Medal.
The Scobie Breasley Medal top five was rounded out by Daniel Stackhouse (31 votes), Harry Coffey (27) with Victorian and Metropolitan Apprentices’ Premiership winner Celine Gaudray (24) who claimed fifth position on a countback from Billy Egan and Jye Mcneil.
It was an intriguing battle as Lane led Shinn 40 to 26 at the halfway point of the count before Shinn powered home in the second half of the season.
It was a cluttered leader board despite the runaway pair with just five votes separating fifth to 14th at the end of the count.
While Lane may have missed out on the Scobie Breasley Medal, he did secure his maiden Roy Higgins Medal for winning the Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership as well as being the overall Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership winner, the first rider to claim both titles since Luke Nolen in the 2009-10 season, along with the Damien Oliver Most Valuable Jockey, voted on by his peers.
Father and son training duo Anthony and Sam Freedman landed the inaugural Most Outstanding Training Performance for winning the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double with Without A Fight while that horse was judged the Victorian Racehorse of the Year.
Sam Freedman was also awarded the Colin Alderson Rising Star Award, given to the trainer aged 40 or under whose career is on an upwards trajectory.
Apprentice Jaylah Kennedy was judged the Victorian Jockeys’ Associations Rising Star by her fellow riders while Aaron Kuru won the Tommy Corrigan Medal, the jumps equivalent of the Scobie Breasley Medal, for the second straight year.
Ciaron Maher received a fourth straight Fred Hoysted Medal after claiming the Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership while he also collecting a fifth straight Victorian Trainers’ Premiership.
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...