Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Bailey Kinninmont will make his Flemington Racecourse debut on Saturday, July 18, riding Lake Vostok in the 1600-metre RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final. The opportunity comes days after the 28-year-old apprentice earned his first metropolitan win aboard Silent Shares at Sandown.
Lake Vostok returns to the race she won last year for trainer Luke Oliver and jockey Rose Hammond. Kinninmont has yet to ride the mare in competition, but partnered her in every jump-out before her first-up seventh at Flemington on June 20.
Readers can revisit King Pedro’s Grafton Cup win, while the official Flemington race program confirms Saturday’s meeting.
Oliver Support Fuels Kinninmont’s Rise
Kinninmont has recorded 44 career victories, including 11 for Luke Oliver, after beginning his apprenticeship under Mick Kent. He grew up in a racing family in Perth but did not become interested in riding until he was 18.
“Mick Kent is my boss, but Luke is probably my biggest supporter,” Kinninmont said. “He throws me on everything, and I ride a lot of work for him, so he’s almost a second boss and hopefully we can repay the faith.”
Lake Vostok Ready to Improve
Kinninmont believes Lake Vostok has progressed since her return and can repeat last year’s winning performance. The mare’s familiarity with Flemington and move to 1600 metres give the pairing reason for confidence.
“She’s going great,” Kinninmont said. “I’ve had a lot to do with her the whole way through but couldn’t ride her first-up as I couldn’t ride in town, but she’s definitely improved on the first-up run and I think she goes in with a real winning chance.”
A victory would arrive one day before Kinninmont’s birthday, with family travelling from China and Perth for the weekend. It would turn his first Flemington appearance into a landmark result.
