Trainer Troy Corstens puts trust in champion jockey Blake Shinn to overcome Bittercreek barrier in Group 2 Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm

Trainer Troy Corstens is happy for ‘ultimate professional’ Blake Shinn to navigate the visitor’s draw dished out to Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) contender Bittercreek.

Blake Shinn guides Bittercreek to victory in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

Trainer Troy Corstens is happy for “ultimate professional” Blake Shinn to navigate a visitor’s draw afforded to Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) contender Bittercreek.

A last-start Group 2 winner in Queensland for the Flemington trainer, Bittercreek could jump from as low as barrier 14 on Saturday at Eagle Farm with up to five emergencies to drop out.

“Blake is the ultimate professional and always does his work so well, I’ll leave it to him,” Corstens said.

“He’ll have a plan in his head and then when those barriers open, if he needs to change the plan, he doesn’t need me in his head as well trying to tell him what to do.

“He doesn’t tell me what to do and I don’t tell him what to do and it works very well.”

Shinn guided Bittercreek to somewhat of an unexpected win last start for Corstens, who trains in partnership with father Leon, in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben.

Not a bad way to break the maiden status!

The $375,000 yearling purchase, Bittercreek, finishes strongly to take out the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben.@blake_shinn | @MaluaRacingpic.twitter.com/tRVIOQFHzQ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 18, 2024

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“He’s really thrived since his first-up run and come right on,” Corstens said.

“I thought he might’ve needed the run (first up) but he performed well above where I thought he was.”

Shinn claimed the Group 1 Doomben Cup last Saturday with a brilliant frontrunning ride aboard Bois D’argent for trainer Annabel Neasham.

Bittercreek is a $10 chance with TAB behind favourite Broadsiding ($3.40), also drawn wide, El Morzillo ($5.50), Brutal Bowler ($6) and Angel Capital ($8).

“I would’ve much preferred he draw inside eight but what do you do, you can’t do much about barriers.

“He’s more than capable of winning, had he drawn a gate I’d be a lot more confident than I am, that’s for sure.”

Bittercreek, placed at Flemington and The Valley before an already fruitful Queensland raid, has been aimed to peak in the Group 1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 15.

Corstens also has Magnaspin, a last start Newcastle winner, as second emergency in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m).

Magnaspin digs deep to deliver a huge win 💪 pic.twitter.com/KZagvUqcHJ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 11, 2024

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The Flemington horseman, who trains in partnership with father Leon, has Stay Silent set to debut at Caulfield on Saturday and the in-form Subliminal chasing a hat-trick of wins.

“He’s a lovely colt (Stay Silent), trialled up really nicely and I think it looks like a really good kick-off point for him,” Corstens said.

“Subliminal has been ultra-consistent, I’m very happy with her, she’s about to have her 10th run of the preparation, she’s in really good form.

“I thought it was a terrific run last start at Bendigo, comes in well with a claim and I think she’ll run a really nice race.”

Stay Silent and Subliminal are $21 and $11 respectively.

Originally published as Trainer Troy Corstens puts trust in champion jockey Blake Shinn to overcome Bittercreek barrier in Group 2 Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm