An appeal win against the length of a careless riding suspension will enable jockey Blake Shinn to stick with smart two year old Bondi in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1100m) at Wyong on December 21.
Jockey Blake Shinn, above, is free to ride Bondi in the Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic at Wyong. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Bondi is the early $9 equal favourite for the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13 and a win at Wyong will see the Snitzel colt maintain his spot at the top of the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Shinn was found guilty of careless riding at the Canterbury meeting on December 1 and suspended for nine meetings which would have seen him on the sidelines from December 7th until December 22nd.
Shinn’s appeal against the severity of the suspension was successful and the Racing NSW Appeals panel on Tuesday reduced his time off to six meetings which will allow him to ride Bondi in the Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
“Significant win at my appeal today (Tuesday). 9 meetings suspension from Dec 1 reduced to 6. Special thanks Paul O’Sullivan for his brilliant efforts. Resume 20th Canterbury & looking forward to riding Bondi at Wyong in 2yo Magic Millions on the 21st,” Shinn said on twitter.
Bondi has had a freshen up since his debut when second to the Chris Waller trained Performer in the Listed $150,000 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on September 30.
Shinn and Team Snowden combined during the 2015 – 2016 Summer Carnival to win both the Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic and the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast with brilliant colt Capitalist who went on to win the 2016 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
Four juveniles are sharing favouritism for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast with Ef Troop, Jonker and Terminology sitting next to Bondi at the top of the market order at $9.
The Tony Gollan trained Ef Troop was a winner at his only start in a 1050m 2yo Handicap at Doomben on November 4 and has since romped in a 1000m barrier trial at the Gold Coast on December 7.
Newcastle colt Jonker was also impressive in winning his only start on his home track on December 3 and while the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Terminology is yet to face the starter, he has won both his barrier trials which included a ten and a quarter lengths victory in a 900m Rosehill trial on December 8.
Early betting for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast at Ladbrokes.com.au: $9 Bondi, Ef Troop, Jonker, Terminology, $13 Legislation, Nomothaj, Orcein, $17 Crockett, La Pomme De Pin, $21 Ardoyne Road, Charge, Singular Sensation, The Art Of The Bar, Witherspoon, $26 or better the rest.