Shinn Chasing Successive George Main Wins
- Wednesday, 17 September 2014 08:36
Four months after the death of Guy Walter, Blake Shinn is rebuilding himself and his riding career.
Shinn regarded Walter as a father figure and was deeply affected when the popular trainer died suddenly from a heart attack in May.
As Walter's stable jockey, Shinn also found himself having to reinvent his place in Sydney racing.
"It's a new transition for me," Shinn said.
"I'm trying to cement myself with new trainers.
"I've got loyal support from a few owners and trainers but it might take six to twelve months to establish myself again in Sydney."
On George Main Stakes day last year, Walter and Shinn were the toast of Randwick when they combined to win the Group One feature with Streama.
On Saturday, Shinn will take another step on the road to renewal when he teams up with Peter and Paul Snowden to ride outsider Gypsy Diamond in the weight-for-age contest.
The mare has failed to fire in two return runs on heavy tracks but looks certain to get a firmer surface.
She is one of four mares in the 10-horse field along with two who are prominent in Caulfield Cup betting, Rising Romance and Lucia Valentina.
That pair will both make their weight-for-age debut in the George Main Stakes (1600m), a race which also also boasts dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls.
Shinn has six early rides at the Randwick meeting, all for different trainers.
They include Junoob for Chris Waller in the Group Two Hill Stakes (2000m) and up-and-coming filly First Seal for John Thompson in the Group Two Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
First Seal, who is raced by the China Horse Club, resumed with a strong midweek win last month before a gallant second on heavy ground at Rosehill.
It will be Shinn's first race ride on the filly who Thompson reports has worked particularly well on the track this week with Shinn in the saddle.
First Seal is one of eight Tea Rose runners along with Group One winners Earthquake and Peggy Jean.
"She's obviously going to take on a few big guns on Saturday but she is highly talented and it's great to pick up the ride on her," Shinn said.
