‘One for the great man’: Blake Shinn channels the GOAT, Damien Oliver, in Caulfield victory

Top jockey at his meticulous best at Caulfield on Saturday, studying a Damien Oliver ride from 12 months ago to help him salute aboard Jabbawockeez.

Jabbawockeez, ridden by Blake Shinn, wins at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

Champion jockey Blake Shinn studied “the Goat” Damien Oliver to help Jabbawockeez back into the winner’s stall.

During form study for the Benchmark 78 (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday, meticulous Shinn identified Oliver’s ride on Jabbawockeez 12-months ago and sought to replicate it.

Oliver rode the Lindsay Park-trained galloper cold to finish off and duly saluted at Sandown in July last year.

Jabbawockeez shoots up the inside to score at Caulfield! 🏇💨@[e-mail]/KLuyaZY9SM

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 13, 2024

“The key was to switch him off,” Shinn said.

“I went back through the replays and the GOAT had ridden him a few times, Ollie, and we just went back to how he rode it, back, cold.

“The day he won on it at Sandown was a similar ride to today, that one was for the great man (Oliver).”

Jabbawockeez, who saluted with a similarly cold ride at Warrnambool during the May Carnival, had been around the mark the past three starts without a win.

A wet track on Saturday and blinkers, coupled with Shinn’s steer, made all the difference.

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Zou good for the opposition

Lovazou secured a valuable metropolitan victory at Caulfield on Saturday.

The daughter of Zoustar, out of stakes winner Lovani, looked the winner a long way out as Waimarie and short-priced favourite Enna’s Dream tussled for the minor prizes.

Jockey Carleen Hefel summed up the Three-Year-Old Open Fillies (1400m) perfectly on the Danny O’Brien-trained winner.

“I saw Frosty (Damian Lane on Enna’s Dream) down the inside and I anticipated Celine (Gaudray on Waimarie) would hold him in a bit,” Hefel said.

“I knew my mare would let down and she did that today.”

Hefel has combined with Lovazou on and off the track, with victory at Ballarat the start prior and track work previously.

“She’s a mare that’s got her own agenda … one of the few horses that gives me anxiety this mare, today she was in a lot better mood, she was happier,” Hefel said.

“She did everything today and showed the talent she’s got.”

Lovazou upsets the favourite!

Takes down the first at Caulfield💪@DOBrienRacingpic.twitter.com/0Km98xflFu

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 13, 2024

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Stockdale gets one back

Jockey Thomas Stockdale needed not worry about a photo finish spoiler with Marble Nine a clear winner in the Three-Year-Old Open Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield.

Stockdale, denied earlier on the card aboard Eye For An Eye when touched off by stablemate Rezone, charged up inside Major Share to win the 1100m sprint on Saturday.

“Just tough, really tough, (Marble Nine) can roll along at a high cruising speed and still find an effort,” Stockdale said.

“Probably didn’t want to be up in the ground (deteriorated closer to the rail) but I had to go, the only option, credit to the horse, super effort by it.

“I really felt my horse lengthen and half way up the straight he was really sustaining a good gallop and I could feel underneath me he wouldn’t lay down.”

Stockdale has ridden a personal best 101 Victorian winners this season, including 22 in town.

Marble Nine toughs it out and holds on the inside👊 pic.twitter.com/riR5AA6jul

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 13, 2024

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Momentum trumps premiership gap

Blake Shinn says the gap to jockeys’ premiership leader Damian Lane might be too big but he was thrilled to build momentum toward the spring with a Caulfield treble.

Shinn completed his trio of wins aboard the Matthew Smith-trained Astero in the last race of the day, adding to his successes on Jabbawockeez and Monash Stakes winner Recommendation.

Shinn’s treble left him 10 wins behind Lane with five city meetings remaining in the season.

“It’s probably a bridge too far, 10, but I’m building some nice momentum to spring,” Shinn said.

“I just want to keep it rolling and I’m very happy with the way things are going.”

Astero shoots clear in dominant fashion! 🏇💨@blake_shinn caps off a brilliant day in the saddle💪 pic.twitter.com/BchZXgHNX4

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 13, 2024

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THE QUOTE:
“I was standing next to Beau’s sister and I said, ‘who do you want, the brother or the husband to win?’ trainer Michael Kent Jr wondered where family loyalties lay as brothers in law-to be Beau Mertens and Thomas Stockdale fought out a tight finish. Mertens narrowly won the prize on Rezone.

THE TWEET:
“Am on Marble Nine in the next at Caulfield. Most likely comes last …,” punter Briggsy (@champignyon) applied a bit of reverse psychology before Marble Nine landed the prize at Caulfield.

— with Brad Waters

Originally published as ‘One for the great man’: Blake Shinn channels the GOAT, Damien Oliver, in Caulfield victory