Leading Australian jockey Blake Shinn will return to ride in New Zealand on Boxing Day where he is hoping he can unwrap some late Christmas presents at Ellerslie.

The 37-year-old hoop had a memorable day at Pukekohe’s Boxing Day meeting last year where he rode the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Molly Bloom to victory in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).

“I remember that vividly, when I came over to ride Molly, that was a great day,” Shinn said.

“New Zealand has been good to me in the past, so hopefully we can continue that good run on Boxing Day with some nice rides for some really loyal people.”

He will team up with Wexford Stables once again in this year’s running of the fillies’ feature, where he will ride the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Sethito.

The daughter of Super Seth has been in fine form, winning her last two outings, including the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie earlier this month, and Shinn is looking forward to partnering with her on Boxing Day.

“I am really looking forward to riding her, she has been in good form,” Shinn said. “She won quite stylishly in her last start. Lance and Scotty, they don’t ask me unless they are confident that the horse is going to put in a bold showing. I am really happy to take the ride for them and her big owners in Waikato as well.”

Shinn is also excited to team-up with Te Akau Racing, where he will ride talented filly Damask Rose against the boys in the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) and Campionessa in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m).

Shinn has a great association with Damask Rose, having ridden her to a runner-up result in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) behind Velocious earlier this year, and he is excited to reunite with the daughter of Savabeel.

“We ran second in the two-year-old Karaka Millions at her second start, and she was all quality on that day,” Shinn said.

“She appears to have come back exceptionally well, her win last start was great.

“She has to overcome barrier 11, which poses a little bit of a task for me and the horse, but hopefully her class will be able to overcome that.”

Shinn said he is looking forward to teaming up with Te Akau Racing and building on their burgeoning partnership.

“I am forming a great relationship with David Ellis and the whole team at Te Akau,” he said. “They asked me if I would consider coming over and I jumped at the chance when the team asked. They are world-class in every aspect and their horses are great to ride.”

Boxing Day at Ellerslie will continue a busy time for Shinn, who is set to return to Melbourne following the meeting before heading to Queensland and Hong Kong, and then likely return to Ellerslie for the Karaka Millions meeting later next month.

“I will head back to Melbourne and ride on the 28^th at Moonee Valley and the 1^st (of January) at Flemington before making my way to the Magic Millions Carnival on the 4^th and the 11^th where hopefully I will have a strong hand on both days.

“And then I will head to Hong Kong on the 19^th where I will ride Galaxy Patch in the Stewards’ Cup (Gr.1, 1600m).

“It is a busy month but that is the exciting part, travelling around to the good carnivals and competing at the highest level. I am privileged to be in this position.”

Shinn said it has been great to see racing in New Zealand flourish under the stewardship of Entain, and the level of prizemoney could entice more Australians to cross the Tasman.

“It is great to see and you might see me in New Zealand a bit more in the future, especially with the prizemoney going ahead,” he said.