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Australian jockey Blake Shinn was quick to make his mark in Singapore after steering I Am Sacred to an all-the-way win in the $50,000 Jupiter Gold 2018 Stakes on Sunday.
After the multiple Group 1-winning jockey called time on his three-year stint in Hong Kong recently, he accepted a five-week contract at Kranji. At his first meeting, he secured five rides, the main assignment being Amazing Breeze for trainer Jerome Tan in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m).
As a nice warm-up, Shinn delivered the goods with an all-the-win aboard I Am Sacred in the Class 4 Division 2 race for the same Tan at his very first ride of the day.
After a clean jump from barrier eight, Shinn drove I Am Sacred ($17) to the lead with favourite Charminton (Yusoff Fadzli) in close attendance.
Turning for home, Charminton gave chase but suddenly veered out under pressure at the 200m. I Am Sacred could not have asked for more as he showed no signs of letting up towards a comfortable one-and-a-half length victory.
Charminton ran second, with Lim's Spin (Danny Beasley) another three-quarter length away in third.
The winning time was 1min 9.78secs over 1200m on the Short Course.
Shinn revealed he was confident that I Am Sacred could hold sway once the pair stole a march on Charminton.
"I thought he had a good chance but I have great respect for Donna Logan's horse," said Shinn, who won his last race on Nunchuks on June 25 at the Sha Tin racecourse.
"I wasn't sure we would lead Charminton, but when he was half a length slow away, we took advantage of the jump.
"I didn't fire him up too much and he came back underneath me.
"Maybe (he's) suspect over the strong 1200m so I had to be mindful of that, but when he got a comfortable lead and was in control of the race, he was going to be hard to beat.
"It was a dominant victory in the end."
The 2008 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey (aboard Viewed for the late legendary trainer Bart Cummings) bagged two winners (Squire Osbaldeston and Newlands) for trainer Stephen Gray at his last flying visit to Singapore in July 2015 but his main ride Twickenham finished eighth to Quechua in the Singapore Derby which was run over 2000m then.
Seven years later, Shinn makes another winning return at Kranji.
"I couldn't think of a better way to kick off (this stint). The Club asked me to come and I'm more than happy to," he said.
"I arrived last Sunday and people have been great to me. Now, I'm rapt to get a winner for Jerome today.
"He has given me four rides and in particular, (Amazing Breeze in) the Derby, so it's great to repay him with a winner.
"I appreciate the good start and hopefully it continues."
Tan was glad that he was rewarded with a winner.
"He's (I Am Sacred) a jump-and-run horse. I thought he settled down well for Blake and they've got a good sectional in front, so he kept going," said Tan of his 15th winner of the season.
A five-year-old son of I Am Invincible, I Am Sacred has taken his earnings to more than $160,000 for the Raffles Racing Stable from four wins in 21 starts.
Meanwhile, Shinn will leave Singapore after the Group 1 Lion City Cup meeting on August 14 and head home for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival held from September to November. The highlight is "the race that stops a nation" – the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
