Welcome to the Sun-Shinn State: Beautiful in the saddle one day, perfect the next

FORGET Hugh Bowman or James McDonald. Blake Shinn is the man when it comes to landing the big dollars in Queensland at the moment.

Winning combination Blake Shinn and Dothraki taste success at Rosehill. Picture: Simon Bullard

FORGET Hugh Bowman or James McDonald. Blake Shinn is the man when it comes to landing the big dollars in Queensland at the moment.

This year’s Magic Millions winner is warming to the idea of another heist at Doomben on Saturday after causing a BTC Cup shock last year.

Shinn rides Dothraki for the same stable and in the same colours as he did in landing Hot Snitzel as a $26 upset winner for Team Snowden and Triple Crown Syndications last year.

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“I think he’s flying under the radar a bit,’’ Shinn said. “He’s got very good credentials and form around Fell Swoop.

“I rode him in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm last month (which he won easily) and the horse felt great.

“It looks like he’s going to get the same run as Hot Snitzel did. The barrier draw was crucial and he’s got barrier one.

“He should get a favourable run and I will try to keep him covered up until the last 200m.’’

While Bowman and McDonald may have amassed more prizemoney across Australia this season, Shinn’s $10 million-plus in earnings is still quite an achievement and if last year’s winter carnival is anything to go by, there is still plenty of earnings to come over the next month.

The Magic Millions win on Capitalist built on Shinn’s stellar year in the Sunshine State.

Shinn has a 29 per cent strike rate at Doomben in the past year, highlighted by five winners at this meeting last year. He also won the Doomben Cup on Pornichet, a race he won the previous year on Streama.

Paul Snowden with Blake Shinn discuss the big races coming up. Picture: Chris Pavlich

The 2008 Melbourne Cup winner deflects praise for his tremendous record when venturing north.

“Obviously when I am riding for good stables and well prepared horses it’s my job to give them every chance,” he said.

Shinn also has his first race day ride on Derby prospect Mackintosh for Chris Waller in the Rough Habit Plate on Saturday.

“I trialled him back before the Randwick Guineas. He did impress me that day then in the Guineas he was trapped wide,” he said.

“He had a change of stable after that and he was impressive at Hawkesbury. It looks like he will appreciate the distance and looks a strong chance going forward into the Derby.”

Shinn also rides opening race favourite Secret Saga ($3.30), while his other rides are Upstart Pride ($8.50), Flamboyer ($31), Junoob ($17), Attention ($19) and Rudy ($10).

Punters have tried a number of runners in the BTC Cup, including Dothraki, who has been $15 to $13 with UBET.

Fell Swoop is the one runner punters have sidestepped, easing to $4.80 on Friday after being $4 earlier in the week.

Originally published as Welcome to the Sun-Shinn State: Beautiful in the saddle one day, perfect the next