'I need a little more time' - Shoemark targeting Breeders' Cup injury return

Sidelined jockey Kieran Shoemark is confident of being fit to take his first Breeders' Cup ride despite missing his intended target of getting back for Champions Day at Ascot.

He has been out of action since breaking his collarbone when Time Off suffered a fatal injury at Chepstow on September 8 but now hopes to return in time to ride in Britain "for three or four days" before the world's richest meeting next month.

Shoemark is itching to maintain his partnership with the Ed Walker-trained Dreamloper, on whom he has won the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan and Prix du Moulin this season, at Keeneland on November 5.

"I had a bit of a setback as the plan was to be back for Champions day but the second x-ray showed that it hadn't started to bind together," he said on Tuesday.

"There's been a lot of progress since then. I had another x-ray yesterday and it's getting there, I just need a little more time. The plan will be to ride here for three or four days before I fly to the Breeders' Cup."

The 26-year-old is confident he will be in the shape to resume as soon as his collarbone is mended and said: "I've been to Oaksey House every day, I'm power walking as we speak and my fitness isn't in doubt at all. If you break a collar bone, you're still able to move.

"I've got to pass tests and I'm not over the finishing line yet but the plan is still to be back for the Breeders' Cup."

Looking ahead to his first Breeders' Cup ride, he added: "I'm really looking forward to going out there with a live chance. Her performance past time at Longchamp was pretty impressive, winning a Group 1 by five and a half lengths."

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