Blake Shinn lands double for Te Akau Racing in The Kiwi and Group 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie

Blake Shinn cemented his relationship with Te Akau Racing after producing a magical ride to win The Kiwi, which followed success in the two-year-old Group 1 Group 1 Sistema Stakes.

Blake Shinn weaved through the field on Damask Rose to win the $3.5m The Kiwi at Ellerslie on Saturday. Picture: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

A remarkable piece of riding brilliance saw champion jockey Blake Shinn score his first rich slot race as he pulled a rabbit out of the hat to score the inaugural $3.5m The Kiwi.

After claiming a Group 1 victory earlier on the card at Ellerslie, Shinn was on Damask Rose in The Kiwi and the exciting New Zealand filly was backed for a stack ($7.50 into $4.80).

Shinn had the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly a long last in the run and needing to go past every runner in the straight to claim victory.

The gun Victorian hoop was calm in a crisis and scraped the paint along the inside to score an astonishing victory, zooming to the line and holding off Lindsay Park-trained favourite Evaporate.

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It further cemented Shinn’s flourishing relationship with Te Akau Racing and the jockey is likely to make more hit-and-run trips across the ditch to ride for the tangerine army in the future.

Shinn had also ridden Damask Rose to score the rich Karaka Millions 3YO and knew he wanted the filly to have the last crack at her rivals in the first running of the slot race for three-year-old horses over 1500m.

The biggest day in New Zealand racing on Saturday was a day to remember for Shinn, as it was for outgoing Entain deputy chief executive Lachlan Fitt, who is a part-owner of Damask Rose.

Wow! What a run by the sweetest rose of all.
Damask Rose wins the @karakachat NZB Kiwi at @Ellerslie_Races.
Trained by @TeAkauRacing and ridden by @blake_shinn.
Came from last. By Savabeel @WaikatoStud
Great scenes! A very special day for the industry.🌹@[e-mail]/t58BTr65ZZ

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) March 8, 2025

“She was a bit slow into stride so we sort of had to go to Plan B,” Shinn said.

“Fortunately the speed was quick, I was contemplating coming wide but just the way the race set up, I looked for the inside runs and they came.

“She had an electric turn of foot and savaged the line.

“It was really special to win the inaugural running of this Kiwi race.

“I’m just delighted to win it for Te Akau and their team.

“They’re a big family environment.

“They embrace me as a part of it, and they’ve got the good horses.

“They need results.

“This is what it’s about for their big group of ownership base, and to achieve this result for them, it’s fantastic.”

Earlier, Shinn picked up his latest Group 1 win when $1.3m two-year-old colt Return To Conquer scored his fourth win and remained undefeated, claiming the Sistema Stakes (1200m).

Return To Conquer started as the $2.05 favourite but wasn’t dominant in winning, defying a late challenge from $41 roughie Landlock.

He comes, he sees, he conquers!
It wasn't an easy watch but the @TeAkauRacing trained Return To Conquer with @blake_shinn aboard, wins the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes at @Ellerslie_Races. Is the Golden Slipper the next stop? Read more on the Trackside website:https://t.co/Ugsrc7ScUdpic.twitter.com/jTFk0TRdoK

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) March 8, 2025

Return To Conquer holds a nomination for the Golden Slipper but it appears unlikely he will head there.

“The blinkers went on today to try and encourage the horse to put a field away, he gets there and thinks the job is done but he rallied hard today when the second horse came to him,” Shinn said.

“He has had a long preparation, he is probably ready for a bit of a reset now but to end the preparation with a Group 1 is pretty special.”

The son of Snitzel was bought by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $A1.3m as a yearling on the Gold Coast last year and his latest success made it 100 Group One wins for Ellis and his team at Te Akau Racing.

Melbourne-based jockey Michael Dee won his 15th Group 1 and his first in his former New Zealand homeland when he scored the NZ Derby on favourite Willydoit.

Originally published as Blake Shinn lands double for Te Akau Racing in The Kiwi and Group 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie