David Braithwaite
Trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Blake Shinn recorded winning doubles during Thursday’s Sale race meeting.
Conditions at Greenwattle were ideal for racing, with clear skies and a track rated “soft six”.
Shinn’s first win of the day came in race four, the three-year-old maiden plate over 1100 metres, on board Blackberry Bomb.
The Simon Zahra-trained filly, who was an unlucky runner-up on debut at Sandown three weeks earlier, came from third last in the home straight to finish strongly and win by a head from Grizinger Sun, trained by Danny O’Brien.
A win in the first leg of the $5 million Inglis Race Series gave connections of Blackberry Bomb $100,000 in bonuses, going a long way to repaying her $300,000 prize tag.
Shinn’s second success came in race seven, the benchmark 58 handicap over 1400m, riding Pardon My French for Maher. The four-year-old mare was too good, notching back-to-back wins, while I’m Dynamite, trained at Sale by Susie Wells, came third after being at the back entering the straight.
Maher’s first win came in race five, the Rising Stars Race over 1200m, with War Drama, ridden by Sarah Field, finishing a length and a quarter ahead.
The meet began with It’s My Party passing favourite Cleopatra Link in the shadows of the post to take out the 2200m maiden plate and her first win from 16 starts.
In race two, the 1400m maiden plate, Dougal Mckeen hit the lead at the top of the home straight and held off a fast-finishing It’sreel to win by a nose.
Entering race three, the 1100m maiden for four year olds and older, as favourite, Kundalini was at the front throughout, and out-ran Ten Warriors to win by less than half a body length.
Bold Print, trained by Rachael Cunningham at Pakenham and ridden by Jason Maskiell, held of challenges from well-fancied Naval Academy and Peace Treaty, to win race six, the benchmark 70 handicap over 1000m. The four-year-old gelding has won three of his past four starts since July 1.
The meet finished with Delightful Journey, trained at Moe by Christine Sexton and ridden by Teo Nugent, claiming race eight, the 1717m benchmark 64 handicap.
The seven-year-old gelding moved to the lead on the back straight and was never headed, taking his first victory since the Bairnsdale Cup in March last year.
Racing returns to Greenwattle on Wednesday, September 11.
Blackberry Bomb, ridden by Blake Shinn, wins race four. Photos: Scott Barbour, Racing Photos
