Premiership in sight for Shinn
Jockey Blake Shinn says a win in the Melbourne Jockeys' Premiership will look good on his record, but at the same time it is not something he has put a lot of thought into.
After a double at Flemington last Saturday and another winner at Sandown on Sunday, Shinn is within 11 wins of premiership leader Jamie Kah who is sidelined following her fall at Flemington in March.
It is Shinn's first season back riding in Melbourne following a stint in Hong Kong and an even longer period riding in Sydney.
"I suppose through unfortunate circumstances its possible," Shinn said of a potential premiership win.
"But my main focus is trying to stay out of the Stewards' room and just try and chalk up as many winners and at the end of the season what will be, will be.
"I haven't won one before, but I did come close, so in my first year back from Hong Kong and I haven't been in Melbourne for a lot of years, it would be nice."
Shinn said he was still adjusting to riding in Melbourne again which has seen the ride hit with a number of whip penalties and careless riding suspensions, but overall, he is content with how his first season back has gone.
"I haven't lived in Melbourne since I was a young kid," Shinn said.
"I'm getting used to the whole racing scene again, building new contacts, but overall, I have to be happy, running second in the premiership against the likes of Ollie (Damien Oliver), Craig Williams and some other top-class jockeys.
"I would say it's pretty satisfying."
Shinn said to stay out of the Stewards' room on race day he needs he needs to quell his fierce determination to win at all costs.
He said he was still working on staying out of Stewards' room, and if he can achieve that he is out on the track more which gives him more chances of riding a winner.
"I've been like it since I was a kid. I have to contain that enthusiasm," Shinn said.
"It's hard, especially when you want that result, but it's important, as we have seen in recent times, we want everyone to go home safe, try and prevent incidents and that sort of stuff.
"I'm well aware of that and I'll be doing everything I can."
Shinn heads to Brisbane on Saturday to partner Rothfire in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, (1300m) and Andalus in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
More Racing News
Dan Morton keeps faith with 2024 Railway Stakes mare
Trainer Dan Morton has shrugged aside Super Smink’s horror barrier draw and still thinks she can win the Group 1 Swan Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday. A layer of complexity was added to Super Smink’s Railway Stakes bid after she was handed barrier 18, but Dan Morton is keeping the...
Timing right for Port Lockroy in G1 Railway Stakes bid
He’s one of five interstate raiders and the outsider of the quintet, but co-trainer, Rob Archibald believes there is a sense of timing about Port Lockroy in Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot. Rob Archibald, who shares training duties with Annabel Neasham, says Port Lockroy put himself into Railway Stakes...
Royal task for Gilded Water at local debut
A benchmark race on The Gong undercard will add some Royal flavour to the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting when a horse owned by His Majesty King Charles III makes his local debut. Four-year-old Gilded Water has been sent to Australia to continue his racing career, having started just four times in the...
Improving trio to fly flag for Godolphin at Kembla Grange
Godolphin doesn’t have a representative in The Gong, but James Cummings is content to rely on a trio of up-and-coming sprinters to carry the stable’s hopes at the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting. Fleetwood will headline the leading yard’s squad when he resumes in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m), while Pisanello and Restonica contest benchmark...
Jason Collett hoping to find Express lane in The Gong
Jason Collett is resigned to the fact that he will be more reliant on luck than good management as he tries to coax another win out of Territory Express in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange. The Provincial-Midway Championships Final victor in the autumn, Territory Express has a get-back racing pattern...
Mark Walker aims for ‘new’ hometown Cranbourne Cup
Trainer Mark Walker has a good record when in form New Zealand gallopers land in Australia. Walker’s latest ‘import’ is It’s A Wild Night who will have his first Australian outing in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on Saturday. It’s A Wild Night arrived at Walker’s Cranbourne base just over a week ago...
Railway Stakes 2024 timing perfect for Baker’s Bel
In-form mare Belclare will need to overcome a wide alley to land her first Australian Group One win in the Railway Stakes at Ascot, and connections believe Nash Rawiller is the perfect man for the job. A two-time victor at the highest level in New Zealand, Belclare joined the Sydney stable of Bjorn...
Trainer Gavin Bedggood chasing Fortune in The Meteorite
Gavin Bedggood hopes the decision to take Oscar’s Fortune to Cranbourne for a midweek gallop will pay off handsomely on Saturday. Oscar’s Fortune runs in the $1 million The Meteorite (1200m), a new ‘slot race’ that Southside Racing, a merged entity of the Cranbourne and Pakenham Clubs, runs for the first time. The former...
John Stewart eyes Melbourne with 2024 Japan Cup fancy
Goliath faces one of the toughest tasks in racing this weekend, beating the Japanese at home in their biggest race, but John Stewart is already planning his next moves with his star recruit and Australia is on the itinerary. The ambitious American has quickly become a powerful investor in Australian racing and...
Hedged poised to give The Warra rivals a trim-up
The Magic Millions carnival is the campaign focal point for promising sprinter Hedged, but trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hoping he can knock off a feature race along the way. The gelding will resume in the Group 3 The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday, his first start...
