“Because I could hear them at the 600 metres and I thought ‘I must’ve had them in trouble’ if they are cheering. “She really lengthened down the side and when she does that you know she’s really on and I knew at the point we were in business.” In business she was - and with Treasurethe Moment four years her junior chasing ten straight wins in pursuit – Jenni showed age is just a number. Speaking of age, Blake Shinn was celebrating turning 38 last Friday night in the best possible fashion winning his first Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes aboard Charm Stone. The birthday boy delivered a pearler to navigate off the fence from barrier two – a gate which was expertly picked out by owner Sheamus Mills’ 11-year-old son Lucas earlier that week. “It’s a pretty special day to be able to celebrate Group 1,” Shinn said. “Wow, a time-honoured race the Manikato it's wonderful to be able to win it and just seeing Gary Willets then brings back a lot of memories. “Gee, you couldn’t put a figure on what she’d be worth as a broodmare now.” Some have tried however – a 10% share in Charm Stone sold online only days before her second Group 1 win, valuing her at $3.1 million. For all that is said about high-priced yearlings, the daughter of I Am Invincible has proved her $1.55 million price tag as a juvenile was money well spent. The song lyrics say ‘some days are diamonds, some days are stone’ but this is one stone you wouldn’t mind owning.
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