High profile Sydney based jockey Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Unbreakable in the 2017 $200,000 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup (2000m) at Fannie Bay in Darwin on Monday.

Blake Shinn, above, will be riding Unbreakable in the Darwin Cup at Fannie Bay. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Shinn has just recently returned from a successful riding stint in the USA where he rode eleven winners at Arlington in Chicago and will be transitioning from dirt racing to riding on the oil mixed sand track at Fannie Bay.

Murray Bridge trainer Michael Hickmott confirmed the booking of Shinn via twitter this morning and was thrilled to be able to acquire such a top rider for Unbreakable who is rated a $7 chance for the Darwin Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au.

“Thrilled to confirm Blake Shinn as the rider for Unbreakable, a top chance in the 2017 Darwin Cup,” Hickmott tweeted.

“From dirt racing in the USA, to dirt racing at Fannie Bay. Hopefully he can continue that form to add the 2017 Darwin Cup to his resume.”

Shinn left for the United States after riding at the Queensland Oaks meeting at Doomben on June 3 which included a third on the Chris Waller trained Oklahoma Girl behind her stablemate Egg Tart in the Group 1 $500,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Shinn resumed riding in Sydney at Warwick Farm on July 19 and is yet to find the winner’s stall since being back in Australia but will be in heavy demand over the upcoming Spring Carnival and has already been booked to ride the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English in the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.

Unbreakable will go into the Darwin Cup with mixed form and after winning the $25,000 ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) at Fannie Bay on July 7 was well beaten as the $2.90 favourite when seventh of nine to Darwin Cup rival Royal Request in the $55,000 Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at Fannie Bay on July 15.

Unbreakable has been allocated 56kg for the Darwin Cup and Hickmott also has Lieder, 54kg, and Wexford Town, 57.5kg, nominated for feature race of the Darwin Turf Club’s Carnival.

Lieder has been installed the $4 favourite for the Darwin Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au and is coming off a last start third to Moon Devil in the $45,000 Buntine Handicap (1900m) at Fannie Bay on July 22 while $21 outsider Wexford Town will be facing a tough first up task after not having started since finishing last of eleven in a 1950m BenchMark 90 Handicap at Morphettville Parks on April 1.

Early market order for the 2017 Darwin Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Lieder, $5 Billet Doux, $5.50 Royal Request, $7 Unbreakable, $7.50 Folk Tales, $11 Pretty Blonde, Saturday Sorcerer, $13 Whistle Stop, $15 Harrebs Time, $17 Abu Dhabi, Moon Devil, $21 Wexford Town, Spartan Eagle, $26 Electric Crimson, $51 Flying Tormenta, $67 New Empire, $101 Arctic Song, Best Case, Hammered Art, Overdane, Supercoach, War Story.

Weights for the 2017 Darwin Cup (2000m)