Bill West
Unraced galloper The Genius cost $370,000 and made his debut at the Kyneton Christmas Party races on Thursday.
The Genius, trained by Danny O’Brien and ridden by a top hoop in Blake Shinn, started as the shortest priced favourite of the day and won narrowly but well.
The course commentator referenced the big market move for The Genius, having been shown as a $3.40 chance in early markets for the Evolve Interiors Maiden Plate over 1450 metres.
Shinn positioned the well-bred three-year-old back in the field and made his move entering the straight, eventually winning by almost half a length from the very fast-finishing topweight Mac Kalhoun, also making his race debut.
After the race Shinn spoke highly about the colt’s potential, suggesting he will get better with distance, certainly up to around 2000 metres.
Later on the eight event program, O’Brien and Shinn combined to take out the Prendergast Earthmoving Maiden Plate over 1850 metres with another odds-on favourite, three-year-old filly Majestic Style.
Ballarat-trained Regal Valour, ridden by Declan Bates, won the 1860 metre Midland Express Class 1 Handicap.
Warrnambool trainer Peter Chow’s long trip to Kyneton paid off as his $21 chance Duke Of Neworleans, ridden by Jarrod Fry, finished strongly to win the Macedon Ranges Glass 0-64 Handicap over 1100m.
Champinsky, in the Kyneton stable of Liam Howley, was a late scratching after rider Jason Maskiell was dislodged prior to the seventh race and declared unfit to ride.
DEAD HEAT, LOSES
IN WHIP PROTEST
My Yankee Girl, a star in the Tylden stable of John Salanitri, dead heated for first in the 1200m Festive Season Sprint but lost the race after stewards lodged a protest against jockey Blake Shinn, alleging excessive use of the whip.
Finishing strongly under hard riding, My Yankee Girl overhauled Invincible Caviar right on the post.
It is the first time in Victorian racing history the stewards’ panel has stripped a race from a runner due to a whip indiscretion.
Shinn pleaded guilty, stated he had misjudged the distance to the line, and said he felt sorry for the trainer and those who had supported My Yankee Girl.
He received a 12-meeting suspension and was fined $2000, with My Yankee Girl being relegated to second place behind Invincible Caviar, ridden by Jamie Kah.
