3 minute read

Australian jet-setting jockey, Blake Shinn, has had a very good career.

Back home, a Melbourne Cup – the last of the legendary Bart Cummings' 12 winners with Viewed in 2008 – numerous other big race wins and the Sydney jockeys' championship title in the 2007/2008 season were some volume of work.

His Hong Kong record – where Shinn has been based since 2019 - has been very good too with the highly-regarded hoop knocking in five Group wins in the extremely competitive Hong Kong circuit, including the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup and the Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, both aboard Russian Emperor this year.

And at just 34 years of age, Shinn has a big future ahead of him with the famous Melbourne spring carnival on his short-term agenda after leaving the Hong Kong riding ranks due to the strict COVID-19 restrictions and its inevitable - and well documented - toll on those in the industry.

But in the immediate future, Shinn will be hoping to add another Group 1 to his already impressive resume when he rides the Jerome Tan-trained Amazing Breeze  in the $400,000 Singapore Derby (1800m) on Sunday.

Shinn has been granted a short-term visiting jockey's license (July 8 to August 14) by the Singapore Turf Club and given the likes of Vlad Duric, Daniel Moor (one-day visit on July 19) and Bernardo Pinheiro are all recent additions to the riding ranks, the competition is as good as it gets for top jockeys at Kranji.

That is good for trainers, owners and the public in general and Shinn will be hoping to make an immediate mark on Sunday with a small but strong book of rides at his first meeting back.

"I'm really happy to be back in Singapore," said the visiting jockey.

"The last time I was here (at the Singapore Derby meeting in 2015), I rode a couple of winners for my mate Stephen Gray, so I have good memories.

"Apart from Amazing Breeze, Jerome has put me on some good chances (I Am Sacred , Savvy Command and Sacred Judgement ) and (trainer) Shane's (Baertschiger) horse (Be You) looks a good ride too."

So how did the gun hoop find himself in Singapore with a winning chance at the Singapore Derby?

"It sort of fell into place," explained Shinn after riding in three trials on Thursday.

"I was leaving Hong Kong to head back home at the end of their season (July 16) and the Club (Singapore Turf Club) had enquired if I would ride at the (Singapore) Derby, but it was a bit tight with flights.

"But I got suspended in Hong Kong so I wasn't going to ride at their last meeting, so I was happy to come here for a stint in the warm weather before heading home to Melbourne.

"The last two years in Hong Kong have really taken its toll – I haven't been back to see family and friends for ages – and I needed to get some normality back into my life.

"It's a good time to be in Singapore too with some good racing, including the Lion City Cup (August 14)."

And the Amazing Breeze ride?

"I approached Jerome about the ride on Amazing Breeze as I liked what I saw in the Stewards' Cup," continued Shinn, who has also plied his trade in Dubai, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the USA.

"The top end of the market had been taken but I like the horse and 1800m will suit him, so I was happy to get the ride."

And it is not surprising that Amazing Breeze's trainer was more than happy to receive a call from Shinn when he was looking to shore up a good Singapore Derby mount.

"Blake is a world-class jockey, so of course I was happy when he called," recounted Tan, who won the Perak Derby with Mr Ambassador in 2012.

"The good jockeys in Singapore get booked early, so to have him on board our horse is a bonus.

"He (Amazing Breeze) does need to handle himself on the day but hopefully he can settle and show his best like he did when winning in good company (Kranji Stakes B race) late last year.

"I will leave it to Blake to make the decisions depending on how the race pans out, but I think from the good draw we can sit midfield – maybe just off Relentless (Vlad Duric) in running – and if the tempo is right, we will have a big chance."

Shinn will make Singapore his home for just over a month but he loves the lifestyle both on and off the track.

"Singapore – apart from the warm weather which is a bonus compared to Melbourne (Australia)– is a terrific place to live in," he said.

"It's good to be out of the Hong Kong restrictions and the people in Singapore are friendly – such a nice place.

"The people at the track are really good too - very welcoming – and it's a great environment to work and ride at."

Very good news for Singaporean racegoers as you get the feeling this stint will not be his last.