Shane Scriven won't let a broken toe stand in the way of a possible Group One victory aboard Queenslander Burdekin Blues in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.Scriven broke the big toe on his left foot playing park cricket with fellow rider Danny Craven and his son, who was celebrating his fourth birthday on Sunday."It's a bit embarrassing. I was in thongs playing backyard cricket in the local park with Danny and his young boy when I tripped myself up," Scriven said."I didn't think m

Shane Scriven won't let a broken toe stand in the way of a possible Group One victory aboard Queenslander Burdekin Blues in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Scriven broke the big toe on his left foot playing park cricket with fellow rider Danny Craven and his son, who was celebrating his fourth birthday on Sunday.

"It's a bit embarrassing. I was in thongs playing backyard cricket in the local park with Danny and his young boy when I tripped myself up," Scriven said.

"I didn't think much of it at the time and I put some ice on it but later that night it really started throbbing.

"Eventually it was so sore I went to the doctor who thought it may have been a tendon problem but the X-rays showed it was a small fracture.

"It's safer riding in a race than playing cricket against a four-year-old but at least I'm better off than (jockey) Nathan Day's young boy who broke his arm badly when he fell off the monkey bars."

Scriven was forced to miss the Australia Day meeting at Doomben on Tuesday and Eagle Farm on Wednesday but has declared his fitness to partner Burdekin Blues in the 1000-metre feature in Melbourne.

Scriven is hopeful of landing another Group One victory at Flemington after his success on Perth stayer Scenic Shot in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) in November.

Trainer Barry Baldwin has unsuccessfully tried to get Burdekin Blues to Melbourne for Saturday's race several times but the gelding was finally scheduled to fly out of Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Baldwin originally planned to float Burdekin Blues south but cancelled the trip because of heatwave conditions interstate.

Burdekin Blues was booked on a flight to Melbourne 10 days ago but it was cancelled after Baldwin discovered the gelding had a minor leg injury, although scans later cleared him of serious damage.

Subsequent travel arrangements had to be rescheduled because of the Australia Day holiday which affected flights on Monday and Tuesday.

Baldwin made a last minute inspection of Burdekin Blues on Wednesday before giving him a clean bill of health.

"The leg is fine now. We think it must have been an infection or perhaps an insect bite," Baldwin said.

"He's going to take a lot of beating. He beat Azzaland in the Bat Out Of Hell at the Gold Coast and he came out last Saturday and broke the Eagle Farm track record for the 1000 metres.

"I know he's stepping up to a Group One but they'll know he's in the race, that's for sure."

Baldwin rates Burdekin Blues a superior horse to three months ago when he won the Grazia Stakes (1100m) down the straight at Flemington on Oaks Day.

However, he's still cautious about his charge's ability to handle a bend going in the Melbourne direction which he will need to do after the Lightning.

Burdekin Blues worked in the Melbourne direction at Eagle Farm on Tuesday and Scriven said he had no great concerns if the gelding stayed on in Victoria for the Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield or the Group One William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.

"I can't fault him. I've ridden him in all his work and he's as good as we can get him," Scriven said.