Flemington debut for apprentice Bailey Kinninmont

Apprentice jockey Bailey Kinninmont is hoping to leverage his recent metropolitan success into a victory at the prestigious Flemington Racecourse, the iconic venue for the Melbourne Cup.

The 28-year-old rider is set to experience Flemington for the first time this Saturday, partnering Lake Vostok in the RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final, a 1600-metre contest.

Kinninmont achieved his first city win aboard the Gavin Bedggood-trained Silent Shares at Sandown on Wednesday and is looking forward to teaming up with Luke Oliver's charge, Lake Vostok, for Saturday's event.

Notably, Lake Vostok triumphed in the corresponding race last year with Rose Hammond in the saddle. Hammond is scheduled to ride Impending Shadow on Saturday.

Kinninmont, who hails from a racing family, spent his formative years in Perth. His father, a former jockey, now serves as the 'Racing Control Manager' for the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Conghua Racecourse in China, while his mother, Kelly, works with Simon Miller in Perth.

Kinninmont admitted he wasn't interested in riding until the age of 18, after which he was sent to Melbourne. He gained experience with Julien Welsh and Mick Kent before securing his apprenticeship.

A significant portion of his 44 career wins, specifically 11, have come while under the mentorship of Luke Oliver.

"Mick Kent is my boss, but Luke is probably my biggest supporter," Kinninmont said. "He throws me on everything, and I ride a lot of work for him, so he's almost a second boss and hopefully we can repay the faith."

While Kinninmont has not yet ridden Lake Vostok in a race, he was instrumental in all the mare's jump-outs leading up to her first-up seventh-place finish at Flemington on June 20.

"She's going great," Kinninmont said. "I've had a lot to do with her the whole way through but couldn't ride her first-up as I couldn't ride in town, but she's definitely improved on the first-up run and I think she goes in with a real winning chance."

"I think she's an open class mare, building through the grades, so she's been unlucky not to have won a few more."

Kinninmont's birthday is on Sunday, and his family is planning a trip to Melbourne to celebrate with him.

"Dad is coming over from China, Mum from Perth, brother, cousins, uncles," he mentioned. "It's my birthday on Sunday and that's why they're all coming over, but the race just so happens to be the day before, so that would be a nice present."

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