Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Saturday marks the first time Blake Shinn will weigh in on raceday since Melbourne Cup day in 2025, when he suffered a severe compound fracture in his left leg when falling from She’s Got Pizzazz (Zoustar). Over the nine months of rehabilitation since, Shinn has relied on the same discipline and skills that have made him a champion jockey to get back in the saddle.
‘This is my job’
“I’m feeling good,” said Shinn. “I’m ready to go. I’m really just looking forward to fully getting back into work mode.”
“I’m really just looking forward to fully getting back into work mode.” - Blake Shinn
Shinn returned to trackwork in the middle of May and was back at the jump-outs in early July, notching up some 70 trial rides ahead of his raceday return.
“I have put in the work to make sure the leg is strong and the body is conditioned to get back into raceriding,” he said. “I am at the stage where I think I have done enough.”
That isn’t to say that the road back has been easy. The six months beforehand required Shinn to draw on the same skills that aid him in the saddle to set him up on the ground. The end goal of returning to race riding has been the single focal point he has been able to fixate on.
Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I wanted to rehabilitate the leg as well as I could, so week after week, that was my number one priority,” he said when discussing what kept that focus sharp. “I knew I was going to come back, and I knew that if I didn’t work hard on the rehabilitation, it could set me back weeks or even months. I just tried to pour all of my energy into it.
“It became pretty easy to say, ‘this is my job, and I just have to sit down and do it’.”
A full-time commitment
Looking after your body is a constant important aspect of being a jockey, and rehabilitation is just an extension of that.
“Being a jockey is a very full-on thing, and I needed that to continue with the rehab,” Shinn said. “I could have gone on holidays, but that could have set me back weeks of progress. I had to make sure I was working on the rehab, every day, every week, and not letting myself miss a day.
“Fortunately, as a result of that, I’ve been able to come back ahead of what is the normal timeline for this injury. I wasn’t really aware of how long it could take, but these kinds of injuries can take at least up to 12 months to heal properly. So to do it in nine, and feel strongly that I’m ready, is pretty good.”
“These kinds of injuries can take at least up to 12 months to heal properly. So to do it in nine is pretty good.” - Blake Shinn
The fall left Shinn with breaks in four places in his lower leg, but initially he had thought he would be back in the saddle in time for the back half of the autumn. In January, he came to terms with the fact that his return was going to be further away than he originally anticipated.
The months in between have been spent making use of everything at his disposal to enhance his return, much of which he shared with racing.com through a series of short documentaries.
“You have to use everything you have access to and put in all the hours that you can to get back,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s you who has to do everything. I am rapt with everything we have done and I hope that shows when we hit the track.”
Investing in the future
The other focus for Shinn over the last few months has been supporting his partner Lucy Yeomans in her first season training in her own right, after the dissolution of her training partnership with Lloyd Kennewell last August.
“Rehab has been one half of my life and supporting Lucy has been the other, so between the two of them I have had plenty to keep me going over the last few months,” Shinn said. “It’s been a really good journey, especially with Lucy and watching her develop her business. That has made me really proud this year.
“It’s also been really fun to see that side of the game and learn more about what goes into the training. We have tried to use this time well.”
Lucy Yeomans | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Yeomans has hit the ground running in the past 12 months with her first solo winner Enchanted Jenni (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) winning in September, then putting three wins together in a row. In January, she put her first stakes winner on the board with Jenni The Fox (Too Darn Hot {GB}) winning the Listed Geelong Black Pearl Stakes.
The stable remains boutique, but Shinn has been on the scene at the sales this year as Yeomans has purchased yearlings in her own right for the first time.
“I've been going to the sales probably for the last 15 or 20 years,” said Shinn. “But it’s been different and really enjoyable going to Magic Millions and Inglis with Lucy as she’s been setting up her business and getting horses for that. She has bought about eight this year and hopefully they are going to come through and win in the future, and I’ll be riding them for her.
“It’s been different and really enjoyable going to Magic Millions and Inglis with Lucy as she’s been setting up her business and getting horses for that.” - Blake Shinn
“It’s always an aspect of the game that I love, going to the sales and seeing those young horses that will turn into champions. It’s fascinating watching where they start and what they develop into.”
The most expensive outlay on the list was a $300,000 daughter of Anamoe, who was purchased from Kambula Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and is the one who most catches Shinn’s eye. The filly is a half-sister to Group 2-performed Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett {GB}), out of juvenile winner Chianti (I Am Invincible) who descends from South African Champion 2YO Filly Scented Royal (SAf) (Royal Prerogative {GB}).
Anamoe x Chianti filly | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I'm really interested to see what the Anamoes are like, because I think he threw some really lovely types,” Shinn said. “He was such a great racehorse, so he's definitely one everyone will be watching when they step out in the new season.”
A long awaited reunion
Shinn has six rides on Saturday’s Flemington card and will back it up with three at Sandown on Sunday, and it is the seventh race of the day he is most looking forward to, when he reunites with War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}). Shinn rode the Lindsay Park-trained gelding to win the G3 BRC Sprint and the G2 Gilgai Stakes in 2025, the latter being his most recent win.
“I've got a real soft spot for him,” Shinn said. “I rode him in Brisbane to win the BRC Sprint, and then he got into the Stradbroke and won it. We won the Gilgai, and then he ran in the Everest. I’ve always got a lot of time for him.
“I've got a real soft spot for him (War Machine).” - Blake Shinn
“He’s the main one on Saturday that I’m hoping can come out and win.”
War Machine (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Shinn reunited with the gelding when he returned to trackwork and has ridden him in both his jump-outs ahead of his resumption in the G3 Aurie’s Star Stakes.
“He appears to be going well,” Shinn said. “But he’s got a big weight on Saturday. It’s a reasonably strong field to be carrying that kind of weight in, but he’s a Group 1 horse when he’s at his best, so that’s what I’m hoping to see.”
Beyond Saturday, the big goals are getting back to the top.
“First and foremost, I am looking to just get right back into it,” Shinn said. “But I would love to win the premiership again and to improve my Group 1 tally. Those are next on the agenda.”
“I would love to win the premiership again and to improve my Group 1 tally.” Blake Shinn
With six chances to get on the board on Saturday, it’s all systems go for Shinn to be back.
