Cory Parish can become the first jockey to win the Cups double since 2001
Blake Shinn was one of the proudest spectators when fellow jockey Cory Parish caused an upset in the recent Caulfield Cup aboard Boom Time.
Shinn has reached the heights of Australian racing, including a Melbourne Cup win on Viewed, and is considered among the country’s elite riders.
In recent months he also helped Parish with aspects of his riding and said it was a big thrill to see the jockey reap the rewards in the Caulfield Cup, his first win at Group One level.
“He approached me for some help with his riding and he’s worked hard, I must say,” Shinn said.
“It’s great to see him achieve what he’s done.
“It was a big thrill.
“He never dreamt of getting to a Caulfield Cup and it’s nice to be able to give him some advice and help him with his riding because he works extremely hard to get to where he has.
“I’m proud to say I’ve played a little part in him winning the race. He rode the horse perfectly.”
On Tuesday, Shinn will chase his second Melbourne Cup win on leading contender Humidor with Parish among his rivals on Boom Time.
“Who would have thought only a few months ago, talking about where I would be and actually it happening this quick,” Parish said.
“It’s been quite amazing.”
Parish said Shinn had seen his potential and been a great help.
“He’s given me another line on it. Just with style, tactics. He has seen the potential in me and just wanted to change a couple of things around,” Parish said.
“And he’s just been a good friend and a good help.
“He gives me a call after the races saying ‘you rode that well’ or ‘maybe you should have done this’.
“Just little things like that.”
In late September Parish finished third in the Group One Epsom Handicap in Sydney on Boom Time’s stablemate Snitzson for Lindsay Park.
Shinn won on favourite Happy Clapper.
“Even though he won the race, he was pumped for me,” Parish said.
“I was over the moon just to run third in a Group One and he said ‘you’re on the right track. You will just hit it and it will be something big, it won’t be something small.
“And he was bang-on with that because it wasn’t small – it was a major.”
Parish can also become the first jockey to win the Cups double since Scott Seamer on Ethereal in 2001.
“It’s just a dream to ride in the Melbourne Cup,” he said.
“That’s what your hope is through your whole career. So ticking off the Caulfield Cup, if I could get the double it would be quite amazing.
