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Blake Shinn believes he is riding better than when he won his Sydney Jockeys Premiership as stable rider for Gai Waterhouse six years ago, and the statistics back up his assertion.
Shinn kicked home his 50th winner for the season on In A Wink at Warwick Farm on Friday and he is contending for another Sydney Jockeys Premiership, currently second on the standings behind James McDonald.
He is doing it without being linked to one stable and will ride for seven different yards at Rosehill on Saturday. Trainers are fighting for the services of a jockey who is showing a 17.5 per cent profit on all his rides for the season at an even stake, something he admits would not have happened 12 months ago.
"I think it is the best I have ridden. I'm more mature and I have earned back the respect of trainers after what I did," Shinn said.
He is, of course, refering to his ban for betting. However, since returning from the disqualification a couple of years back, Shinn has been marked by a strong work ethic and taking nothing for granted.
"I have to give a lot of credit to Guy Walter for helping get back the respect, and I have to keep it going for him and his memory," Shinn said. "It is good to be going to races with a full book of rides for the best stables."
Shinn's book shows just how far he has come. He will ride a couple of favourites and the second favourites in the two features, the Festival Stakes and Starlight Stakes at Rosehill.
He gets the chance to jump on Generalife for Godolphin in the festival, which returns from the Melbourne spring winless but carrying some of the best form in the country.
The five-year-old, which is second pick behind Sir Moments, was third to Huckleback, the subsequent Emirates Stakes winner, on Derby Day at Flemington, before going down narrowly to Fast 'n' Rocking in the Heffernan Stakes at Sandown.
"He brings with him the right form and he loves Rosehill where he has won three from five," Shinn said. "I think the trip will suit and from the good draw he will get the right run.
"I'm also lucky to be on a two-year-old for Godolphin [Sampeah] that has trialled well and I think he will be very competitive."
It is a feather in his cap that Shinn is riding for racing's biggest operation, but he spread his services, particular for Randwick trainers, where he rides the majority of his trackwork.
He is on Dublin Lass for the Snowdens, Queen Of Kariba for John Sargent, while another nice ride is the Gary Moore-trained Dream Choice.
However, his best for the afternoon looks to be Dothraki in the Starlight Stakes. The Gerald Ryan-trained four-year-old was gelded before this preparation and Shinn was on for his first-up second before a dominant win last time.
"He just feels untapped to me and we don't know how far he could go now," Shinn said. "I know this is a big step up in class to black type [level] but the way he let down last time he could develop into a top class sprinter.
"There are a couple of handy ones in this race, but I think he has shown in his career that on his day he is as good as anything he will meet here."
