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"Not far off": Shinn unveils return plans from horror leg break
Connor Scanlon • July 2nd, 2026 3:45 pm
Jockey Blake Shinn has been recovering from a severe compound fracture in his left leg after a horror fall at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
The hoop had to undergo surgery to have a metal rod and screws inserted to stabilise his shattered leg, but now nearly eight months on from the incident, Shinn is almost ready to return to the races.
Speaking on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up, Shinn admitted that the complexity of his injury meant that he couldn’t return any sooner, but he is now roughly one month away from his long-awaited return.
“I couldn't have come back sooner. It's quite a complex injury. I broke the tibia and the fibula in my left leg. It was a compound fracture,” Shinn stated.
“Initially, not really knowing how bad the injury was and how long it takes for this type of injury to get back, I thought I'd be back in a few months, but then I realised that it was going to take a lot longer than that.
“They take six months plus to come back. So, we're at eight months now, and I'm probably a month off riding. We're not far off now."
The 28-time Group 1 winning hoop was recently given medical clearance to resume riding trackwork, and now he has ridden over 100 horses in work since the injury.
Regarding his ideal return race, Shinn is targeting the end of July but admitted there is no rush.
“I'd say the leg's probably 90% right,” revealed Shinn.
“I've been back at the track work for probably about six weeks now. I've ridden probably over 100 horses. We're building up fitness, the leg's holding up well.
“I’m just continuing on that weekly training schedule with my personal trainer and physio, and just building up the leg strength and the cardio to be able to be race fit and ready to compete.
“Ideally, (I return) possibly towards the end of July.
“I'm pretty confident I'd be back early August. But look, if my body's right and the right horse comes along, I could be back around the 26th of July, but there's no rush.”
When asked if any owners or trainers have attempted to book him for a ride yet, Shinn admitted there is a few who are “eagerly” waiting for him.
“I’ve been riding work a bit for Lindsay Park. They've got some nice horses gearing up for the spring and I’m doing a bit for Ciaron Maher and Te Akau and riding plenty of work for my girlfriend Lucy Yeomans,” the jockey revealed.
“The reception's been nice, so hopefully there's a few eagerly awaiting to give me some opportunities.”
Listen to Shinn’s full interview below:
