It was sunny at Sydney’s Canterbury racecourse on Wednesday but the moon was out as well when top jockey Blake Shinn finished a race with his pants down and rear bared to the breeze.
Riding Miss Royale, Shinn suffered an unfortunate trouser malfunction just after the start of the first race at Canterbury but managed to keep things together until the race got serious in the final stages and he was in contention.
Throwing everything at his mount to try to catch the leader, Defender, Shinn finished second with his pants around his knees, to the amusement of fans at the track and watching on TV.
WATCH: Blake Shinn's cracking ride
“The elastic went just after the start and there was nothing I could do,” said the Melbourne Cup winning rider. “I was more worried about winning the race. I think a lot of people are going to have a bit of fun with this, but they can’t say I wasn’t focused and went to the line.”
Acting chief steward Greg Rudolph said he had never seen anything like it in his time in racing: “He needed a belt at the 200-metre mark. We usually report gear malfunctions but we are leaving that one alone.”
Shinn told the media later. “I usually come here and stay focused in search of winners. People wouldn’t know I’m that cheeky,”
A tweet later alluded to a famous wardrobe malfunction for Australia’s former Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins. “Now I know how Jen Hawkins feels. Tried to give my fellow jocks a bum steer but unfortunately backfired.”
Appropriately-named Modesty finished third behind Shinn and the happiest jockey after the race was Tommy Berry on the winner: “What a great race to win. It meant I was the only one that didn’t have to stare at Blake’s a*** the whole way up the straight.”
