Blake Shinn set to lose Tattersall’s Tiara ride but can cap off Golden Slipper season in style in Queensland

Blake Shinn rates his Golden Slipper-winning season as one of his best ever, but says there is more in the locker as he looks to become one of Australia’s premier jockeys since arriving back from Hong Kong.

Jockey Blake Shinn salutes after his Group 1 Doomben Cup victory aboard Bois D'argent. Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

Blake Shinn could miss a ride in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara on Saturday, but the leading jockey is adamant it won’t take away from a golden season which has seen him emerge as one of the country’s top riders.

The Melbourne-based hoop believes his Golden Slipper-winning season is one of the best of his career as he looks to end it in style at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

It is understood connections are likely to scratch filly Coeur Volante from the Tatt’s Tiara on Saturday after she drew barrier 16, however, Shinn will still ride in Brisbane after making the trip north earlier in the week.

Shinn made the decision to up and leave from Hong Kong two years ago and says while he is keen to keep that option open, he is loving life back in Australia.

Blake Shinn with owner Rupert Legh.

READ | ‘X-Factor': Gollan on the Bubble in Tiara

“This season has been better than last, getting a couple of Group 1s and a Golden Slipper really tops it off,” Shinn said.

“To win the Slipper (on Lady Of Camelot) for Gai (Waterhouse) was a real highlight and there are too many trainers to mention that I am riding for, it is really enjoyable.

“You look at the prizemoney totals, I’m sitting second in Australia behind J-Mac with $20m, which I think is a really good thing.

“I think it can be stepping stone again to bigger and better things next season, like last season was for this year.

Blake Shinn won the Group 1 Doomben Cup earlier in the winter carnival. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.

“Winning the Slipper and coming to Queensland to win a Group 1, when I’m established in Melbourne is what it is all about.

“Travelling around to the carnivals is where we want to be, to be back two years and getting the opportunity to travel around like this, you’d say there are probably only a handful of riders that are able to do that — and we are in there.

“To be there is a privilege, that’s not lost on me.”

It comes as Shinn made a hit and run mission to Doomben on Wednesday for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, where he was able to deliver on long odds-on favourite Matisse.

“She is a filly that ran really well in the Blue Diamond, she looked like she would make a nice three-year-old, so that is why I came up and rode her,” he said.

“I think her win was full of authority and she could be a (Group 1) Thousand Guineas filly if everything goes right for her.”

Shinn will ride Ghaanati in the Group 2 Healy Stakes, along with Young Werther in the Tattersall’s Cup and Cepheus in the Tattersall’s Mile.

Originally published as Blake Shinn set to lose Tattersall’s Tiara ride but can cap off Golden Slipper season in style in Queensland