Grand Prix Stakes 2016: Derby distance worries Blake Shinn despite Mackintosh’s gutsy run

BLAKE Shinn admitted he had concerns about Mackintosh running a strong 2400m in the Queensland Derby after he only scrambled to victory at Doomben.

BLAKE Shinn admitted he had concerns about Mackintosh running a strong 2400m in the Queensland Derby after he only scrambled to victory in the Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben.

Chris Waller’s impressive three-year-old made it a hat-trick of wins but there were some late nervous moments for punters who took the short odds.

Mackintosh did not look to have much left on the line in the 2200m Grand Prix, while Eagle Way stormed home from the back to reduce the winning margin to a short neck.

Bryan Guy is confident he has the Derby winner in Eagle Way who is only getting better as the distances get longer and should be peaking for the Group 1 Derby in a fortnight.

Guy will have even more confidence after jockey Shinn felt Mackintosh did not have much left in the tank in the Grand Prix.

“He probably had enough near the line today,” Shinn said. “And he goes to 2400m next time, which may be a little bit of a concern. But he is getting better each run. The last time I rode him he worked against me a bit in the run, whereas today I was impressed with the way he wanted to work with me.

“There wasn’t much in it today. But I probably wasn’t too concerned as, given the run I had, I thought I had the race won from the top of the straight.”

Paul Hammersley had the Grand Prix ride on Eagle Way, but will relinquish the mount to Tommy Berry in the Derby.

After a terrific run, Eagle Way firmed from $12 to $5.50 with UBET in Derby betting while Mackintosh eased from $3.40 to $3.80.

“Bring on the Derby,” Guy said. “He had to take off to get on the back of them, and then he has ended up having to go wide. One more bound and he wins.’’

Waller said Mackintosh’s Grand Prix win was “brave”.

“I thought they were coming at him well enough to go past him, but in the last 50m he dug in,” Waller said.

“He is happy rolling along near the lead and I’d suggest he would be in the same sort of position in the Derby.’’

Originally published as Grand Prix Stakes 2016: Derby distance worries Blake Shinn despite Mackintosh’s gutsy run