SHINN AND YEOMANS: IT TAKES TWO, BABY!
- Hans Ebert
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
I guess some would describe him as “enigmatic”, others might not be so kind, but Blake Shinn might be a divisive personality to some, but there’s no getting around the fact that he’s a very very good jockey.
These days, as an observer of the game, the 38 year old Australian certainly brings enormous talent and character and interest to the horse racing table.
He might be an acquired taste, but having him met him twice in my life, with the last time being at the Hong Kong Jockey Club venue known as Adrenaline when I was managing the Happy Wednesday brand in a very happy and different derring do Hong Kong, I found Blake Shinn to be a straightforward and nice guy.
Sure, when writing as the Racingbitch, I had heard much about him, but coming from the music industry, where very few are universally embraced, it’s always good to have those who go against the tide and are who they are.
I am a huge fan and supporter of Ryan Moore and Oisin Murphy, but neither appeal to me as much as the girlish charm and beautiful smile of Saffie Osborne.
I am extremely happy to see Blake Shinn back doing what he does best- riding winners and not trying to win any Popularity Stakes.
He has trainer and longtime partner Lucy Yeomans in his corner, and she seems to give him all the emotional support he needs to guide him through the rest of his ride back.
I watched the documentary about his latest comeback from injury where his leg was fractured in four places, and though I have seen and heard many stories about the incredible physical and mental strength needed to get back to competitive race riding, this documentary made me sit down and take notice.
Maybe it’s because there were two stories going on- the comeback of Blake Shinn and the relatively new journey for Lucy Yeomans and her fledgling stable and will to succeed. It’s inspiring stuff.
Not since talking to Joao Moreira all those years ago about the various demons he had to exorcise before being in the right “space” to be the best he could be had I seen something from the racing world that drew me right in.
While watching Blake Shinn’s winning ride- and an intelligent ride on Changing Colours seemingly to see and understand what more is under the bonnet- on Saturday at Caulfield aboard the Lucy Yeomans trained galloper, I was reminded of him sticking it out for the rest of the Hong Kong season when Covid struck and there was the added strain of living and working in the infamous “racing bubble”.
He was much in demand and respected and won some important races for John Size, Caspar Fownes and Douglas Whyte.
Still some ways to go before he really hits his stride, Blake Shinn knows what his body is telling him.
It won’t be long, however, before this champion rides is matching wits and talent with the likes of Ben Melham, Mark Zahra, Craig Williams, Damian Lane, James McDonald, young guns Jabez Johnstone, Zac Lloyd and others.
It’s all about timing and let’s never think that Lucy Yeomans is only a passenger of an ongoing journey.
This is a black tie double act and one that has legs.
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