Tony Vasil described Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn as a superstar of the future after he led all the way on Bird Of Fire to win Saturday's Group Two Matriarch Stakes at Flemington.The four-year-old mare posted a dead-heat with Miss Badoura last start in the Inglis Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley but on Saturday Shinn dared the opposition to beat her after dashing her forward from gate 15 in the 16-horse field for the 2000m feature.Vasil, a former jockey, said Shinn's ride won the race a

Tony Vasil described Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn as a superstar of the future after he led all the way on Bird Of Fire to win Saturday's Group Two Matriarch Stakes at Flemington.

The four-year-old mare posted a dead-heat with Miss Badoura last start in the Inglis Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley but on Saturday Shinn dared the opposition to beat her after dashing her forward from gate 15 in the 16-horse field for the 2000m feature.

Vasil, a former jockey, said Shinn's ride won the race and he was full of praise for the 21-year-old after his "masterful frontrunning ride".

"He has got the world at his feet and is a superstar in the making," Vasil said.

"He has won the Sydney jockeys' premiership, probably would have won the Golden Slipper Stakes (on Sebring) had he not been suspended, and won the Melbourne Cup."

Vasil said he was concerned with the wide barrier draw, particularly in light of the frustrating times the connections have endured with the Stravinsky mare.

Bird Of Fire has run six seconds in her 19 starts and Vasil believes that she should have won outright last start.

"She has been an extraordinarily unlucky mare," Vasil said.

"We are gracious in copping a dead-heat last start but she probably should have won.

"She has run a number of seconds where she should have won and it is fantastic today she has shown her true class to win a Group Two race and can be recognised as a good broodmare in the future."

Shinn said Bird Of Fire pricked her ears in the lead and responded well to the challenge from Tan Tat De Lago in the last 200 metres.

"I was a bit wary about the distance and nursed her as long as I could but when I really asked her to find something she gave," Shinn said.

Easy in betting at $15, Bird Of Fire posted her fourth win when she held on to beat Tan Tat De Lago ($7.50) by a half-head with El Daana ($7) 1-1/2 lengths away third.