Ciaron Maher and Blake Shinn have struck for the first time on Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield, combining with Shanwah (+210) to claim the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m).
The son of Too Darn Hot was given a peach of a ride by Shinn, who took his time to cross from a wider barrier before sitting in the slipstream of the leader and race favourite with Dabble, Emphasize (+190).
Craig Williams took up the lead on the race favourite, with Shanwah and Confetti Garden (+900) settling behind the leader, who held a one-length margin on his rivals.
Turning for home, Williams released the brakes on Emphasise, but there was little left in the tank, and Shinn took the eventual winner to the outside of the slowing leader to stride straight past by the 200m mark.
Imperialist (+1000) and Confetti Garden worked home nicely from midfield, but they were no match for Shanwah, who recorded a dominant 1.5-length win.
Ciaron Maher was very happy with the win, and he spoke post-race.
“He’s a very progressive horse,” Maher said.
“He’d come on a lot from his last two runs.
“Blake (Shinn) wanted to be forward. He rode him confident. I think he knew what he had underneath him.
“He’s progressive so probably goes on now to a race like the Alistair Clark.”
“You see him during the race. He just wants to relax. He tucks the head in, he looks like you’d be able to train him for any distance really.
“Kevin had to stump up a little bit of money at the yearling sales so I’m glad he is starting to the rewards now.”
Blake Shinn echoed similar thoughts to Maher in his interview.
“There was a bit of sorting itself out in the early stages but once we we’re able to obtain a bit of cover behind Emphasize, I was very happy because he’s got a pretty lethal turn foot for a middle distance style of horse,” Shinn said.
“He’s a capable goal bar and going places this horse.
“He’s obviously gotten fitter, he’s a colt. He’d come down from Sydney. Full credit to Ciaron [Maher] and the team here in Melbourne.
“He’s just got a good handle on him. He’s a cheeky little bigger because as he’s got fitter and got up to his right distance he’s just come into his own.
“He’s an expensive horse by Too Darn Hot and Kevin Payne put a fair bit of money and trust into this horse but now it’s coming to the fore.”
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