Blake Shinn Riding for Te Akau in New Zealand
23 December, 2024
Continuing his association with Te Akau Racing, Australian jockey Blake Shinn is booked to ride on for the stable on Boxing Day at Ellerslie.
Having ridden winners for Te Akau in Singapore and Victoria, Shinn took the opportunity when suspended in November to visit the stables in Matamata, and Te Akau Stud, and among the horses he rode in work he was taken with subsequent debut winner Return To Conquer (Snitzel) who won a stakes' race at his first start, Group 2 Counties Cup placed Cognito (So You Think), and debut runner-up High Roller (Ace High).
With 27 Group One wins to his credit, Shinn recorded 121 wins last season to finish second in the Victorian premiership and is currently atop with 65 wins this season.
Shinn is also engaged for debut course runner-up Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) in the $80,000 2YO 1100 metres, impressive fresh-up winner Damask Rose (Savabeel) in the $270,000 Group 2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas, defending champ Campionessa (Contributer) in the $500,000 Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic, and talented mare Francee (Iffraaj) in the $110,000 Special Conditions 1500 metres.
“David (Ellis) invited Blake over to visit Te Akau Stud and the stables when we were out for dinner in November in Melbourne, and I’ve kept in touch with him since,” said racing manager Reece Trumper.
“He really enjoyed riding the horses in work when he was here, has kept track of them, and he’s only too happy to be riding for us on Boxing Day and again at Karaka Millions' night on 25 January.
“He’s the leading jockey in Melbourne and arguably the next in line behind James McDonald in Australia. He was very successful right from the start, champion apprentice, great record when he was in Hong Kong, and I think he brings a lot to a big day at Ellerslie.”
racing.com reports on Blake Shinn riding for Te Akau on Boxing Day and Karaka Million’s eve:
Blake Shinn said he is likely to make more trips across the Tasman to ride into the future as prizemoney continues to build in New Zealand.
Shinn takes eight rides at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, including key rides in the two features, after being invited by Te Akau Racing to again ride at the meeting and he told Loveracing.nz that local racegoers might see more of him in the years to come.
Shinn said it has been great to see racing in New Zealand progress under the stewardship of Entain, and the level of prizemoney could entice more Australians to dabble in New Zealand racing.
“It is great to see and you might see me in New Zealand a bit more in the future, especially with the prizemoney going ahead,” he said.
“I am forming a great relationship with David Ellis and the whole team at Te Akau.
“They asked me if I would consider coming over and I jumped at the chance when the team asked. They are world-class in every aspect and their horses are great to ride.”
Shinn rides for Te Akau Racing in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) aboard the filly Damask Rose before riding for the team again on Campionessa in the G1 Zabeel Classic (2000m).
Shinn has a great association with Damask Rose, having ridden her to a runner-up result in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) behind Velocious earlier this year.
“We ran second in the two-year-old Karaka Millions at her second start, and she was all quality on that day,” Shinn said.
“She appears to have come back exceptionally well, her win last start was great.
“She has to overcome barrier 11, which poses a little bit of a task for me and the horse, but hopefully her class will be able to overcome that.”
“New Zealand has been good to me in the past, so hopefully we can continue that good run on Boxing Day with some nice rides for some really loyal people.”
Boxing Day at Ellerslie will continue a busy time for Shinn, who is set to return to Melbourne following the meeting before heading to Queensland and Hong Kong, and then likely return to Ellerslie for the Karaka Millions meeting later next month.
“I will head back to Melbourne and ride on the 28th at Moonee Valley and the 1st (of January) at Flemington before making my way to the Magic Millions Carnival on the 4th and the 11th where hopefully I will have a strong hand on both days.
“And then I will head to Hong Kong on the 19th where I will ride Galaxy Patch in the Stewards’ Cup.
“It is a busy month but that is the exciting part, travelling around to the good carnivals and competing at the highest level. I am privileged to be in this position.”