Any jockey resuming after an injury enforced layoff prays for an early winner. Owners and trainers like to watch the comeback rider for a few weeks to ensure that his or her confidence hasn’t been affected by the trauma of a racing accident. Shaun Guymer was probably under more scrutiny than usual when he returned to race riding at Goulburn on June 21st, three months after his involvement in a three horse fall at Canberra - a fall that claimed the life of visiting Italian born jockey Stefano Cherchi. Shaun was catapulted from the saddle when his mount Dunjenni collided with the fallen Hasime at the 800m. Jeff Penza on Epic Statement was unable to miss the carnage and he too was dislodged heavily.
Penza and Guymer were able to walk from the ambulance back to the jockey’s room, while Stefano was rushed to hospital with head injuries and suspected internal bleeding. He passed away two weeks later. His death deeply saddened the many friends he’d made since arriving in Australia early this year, and many more in England where he’d ridden 100 winners before embarking on his overseas adventure. Shaun Guymer and Jeff Penza attended a funeral service for the popular Italian jockey at Liverpool. Stefano’s parents then had the heartbreaking experience of returning their son to Italy to his final resting place.
Stefano Cherchi wins his second race in Australia on Flying Bat at Gosford less than a week before his fatal accident at Canberra - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Immediately after the Canberra fall, Shaun was confident he’d escaped injury free. He actually drove himself home and wasn’t conscious of pain until the following day. He made an immediate appointment with respected orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Duckworth who diagnosed a fracture of the greater tuberosity cuff - the prominent area of bone at the top of the humerus. Shaun’s frustration was quickly tempered by thoughts of the fate of Stefano Cherchi.
His return to race riding three months later, could easily have ended in a moment of embarrassment. The first of his two rides at Goulburn was three year old gelding Battle Fleet in a 1500m maiden for long time supporter Natalie Jarvis. He led soon after the start and looked to be travelling like a winner as he allowed his mount to drift out into better going at the top of the straight. When Battle Fleet started to lay in at the 200m, Shaun quickly switched his whip to the right hand. Although wearing blinkers, the gelding caught a glimpse of the whip and ducked out so abruptly that Shaun was all but unseated.
It was reminiscent of Encounter’s shift away from Shane Dye’s whip in the closing stages of the 1997 Golden Slipper. The Clarry Conners trained colt was beaten a whisker by Guineas, and remains the best thing beaten in Slipper history. “Battle Fleet caught me off guard I must admit,” said Shaun. “The shift was so sudden I was lucky to stay on. As it turned out Scarli Japali was charging with momentum and beat me easily at the finish. Thank goodness I stayed on. Had I parted company it would have taken a bit of gloss off the comeback.”
Shaun was relieved he didn't part company with Battle Fleet at his first ride on the comeback trail. He finished second to Scarli Japali at Goulburn after a near disaster at the top of the straight - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The jockey was at Moruya last Friday for five rides which produced only one placing and he was already impatient for that all important first winner. Despite the rigours of the eight hour round trip to Moruya, Shaun was on the road bright and early to Newcastle on Saturday for four more rides. The first of them would deliver the result he was praying for. He was on the $16.00 chance McGeehan for the Paul and Martha Cave training partnership in the 1850m BM64 and quickly had the horse in the box seat. McGeehan needed every inch of the long Newcastle straight to wear down Deamdeel and put his head in front right on the line. “It’s a good thing McGeehan was rock hard fit because I definitely needed the run,” said Shaun. “It was my twelfth ride back and I’d been around in many barrier trials before coming back, but I was blowing a lot harder than McGeehan as we pulled up. I can only improve.”
The Paul and Martha Cave trained McGeehan arrived in the nick of time to give Shaun a significant comeback win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Shaun gave his young son Fletcher much of the credit for McGeehan’s win. The four year old watched the race in the stand with his mother Emma, and cheered himself hoarse when informed Dad was one of the jockeys in the finish. Emma Guymer was at Newcastle not only to support her husband on the comeback trail, but to represent Champion Thoroughbreds who had Major Look engaged in a later race. Emma has worked as Racing Manager for the respected syndication company since 2015. Major Look finished third in a 1400m maiden with apprentice Braith Nock on board.
Shaun Guymer settled on a career direction not long after finishing his junior term. It was clear that regular rides were going to be scarce in the city and that he would need to travel to establish a steady income. Having grown up in Goulburn it was a natural progression to pursue his riding career in the South East and Southern Districts racing associations. It didn’t take long for owners and trainers to realise he intended to become a fixture in the region, and the opportunities started to flow. Shaun chooses to live on the fringe of the western Sydney region which affords him easy access to freeway connections. The rock solid reputation he’s been able to forge is best summed up by staunch supporter Natalie Jarvis. “He’s unwaveringly reliable, has a great rapport with owners and provides valuable input into the progress of the horses,” said the Moruya trainer.
Shaun wins on Kattegat at Goulburn for great supporter Natalie Jarvis - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The 31 year old had a near obsessive desire to learn and improve from the moment he settled on a career as a jockey. His first tutor was the vastly experienced Danny Williams who provided work experience for the eager youngster and became his first master. Shaun later transferred to the Canberra stables of former jockey Mark Schmetzer who also became a valued tutor. It was leading Canberra trainer Keith Dryden who supplied young Guymer’s first race ride on the curiously named You Can Call Me Al at Thoroughbred Park. The apprentice finished only seventh of fourteen but couldn’t have been more thrilled.
A month later Shaun experienced the adrenaline rush only a young jockey’s first win can bring. The horse was Penalty Shoot Out for trainer Rex Cole on the tricky Queanbeyan track. It’s a good thing the euphoria was long lasting, because his first city win was still a long way off. The magic moment came on a $41.00 “pop” called Yonderstar on the Kensington track in July of 2011. Shaun’s excitement was matched by that of trainer Jarrod Austin who’d just returned to training after an absence of several years.
Shaun won't forget his first city win on Yonderstar on the Kensington track in July 2011. He scrambled home in a busy finish - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
It was Mark Schmetzer who arranged Shaun’s three months “loan-out” to Randwick trainer Kevin Moses who was still riding regular trackwork at the time. The multiple Gr 1 winning jockey rode many a gallop alongside the enthusiastic Canberra apprentice, who hung on the veteran’s every word. Eager to further his experience the young rider grabbed opportunities to work with Joe Pride at Warwick Farm, and Stephen Farley not long after the Wyong trainer had won two Gr 1 races with his talented sprinter Sincero.
Towards the end of Shaun’s apprenticeship Chris Waller sought his city claim for a few talented horses. He had one memorable ride on quality mare Catkins, who won 16 races and more than $2 million. Shaun rode the Dubawi mare perfectly to win a BM75 at Rosehill by a big space. He rates Catkins the best horse he’s ridden thus far.
Perhaps the high point of Guymer’s apprenticeship came in 2014 when invited to spend some time in the care of Peter Moody, not long after the retirement of the iconic Black Caviar. “It was an exciting time,” says Shaun. “Peter couldn’t have been more supportive. He was generous with his time and advice and put a few rides my way. I had two rides on a really nice mare called River Delta for a win at Caulfield and a third on the same track. I was still in the Moody stable when my apprenticeship finished.”
Shaun was 22 and back in Sydney as a fully fledged jockey when the first signs of depression surfaced. The loss of his claim and diminishing opportunities sent him into a tailspin for a short time. He immediately sought professional help and with the support of new partner Emma, made a rapid recovery. A surprise offer from high profile trainer Tony McEvoy also contributed to his lease of life. McEvoy had opened stables at Hawkesbury and was on the lookout for reliable work riders. “I saw a lot of Tony and we became firm friends,” recalled Shaun. “He was shuttling frequently from Lindsay Park in South Australia for a while. He gave me a good number of race rides and happily I was able to win a few races for him. Shiraz was probably the best horse I rode during that association.”
Shaun was chuffed to win on Shiraz for Tony McEvoy - Rosehill 2014 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Tony McEvoy’s Hawkesbury experiment didn’t work out. He closed the operation but not before offering Shaun the opportunity to join the team at Lindsay Park. The jockey rode several winners in South Australia and looks back on the experience as part of a great learning curve at that time in his career. It was around 2017 when Guymer linked up with Richard Freedman who’d set up shop at Rosehill as a trainer in his own right. Shaun’s dedication to trackwork earned him the bulk of the stable riding. “We won a healthy number of races together including several in town,” he said. “The best horse I rode for Richard was Latin Boy who struck a purple patch during my time with the stable. I won five races on him including one in town and four straight at one stage.”
Few jockeys have had a more diversified grounding than Shaun Guymer. He learned from some outstanding horsemen and was always a diligent student. In the next few years he hopes to emulate the achievements of jockeys like Grant Buckley and Jeff Penza who’ve carved brilliant careers away from the glitz and glamour of metropolitan racing. He follows the tried and tested formula that Buckley and Penza have observed over close to twenty five years. Grant Buckley summed it up in a podcast a couple of years ago with the following quote. “Be reliable at all times. Country owners and trainers need to know you’ll turn up no matter what. If you tell them you’ll ride a horse at Tamworth or Dubbo don’t let them down.”
At just 31 and with his riding weight stable at 55 kgs, it’s full steam ahead for Shaun Guymer. His three months away from racing helped him to deal with the emotional aftermath of the Canberra race fall that claimed the life of Stefano Cherchi. The seven year old gelding McGeehan reintroduced him to the winner’s circle on Saturday. He didn’t say so, but it’s very likely Shaun quietly dedicated the win to the memory of the much loved Italian jockey.
An important win for young Guymer on the Waller trained Catkins at Rosehill 17/11/2012 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - McGeehan returns to scale after Saturday's Newcastle win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)