Shinn steers Hadouken to win the 2025 Darwin Cup

Blake Shinn’s journey to Darwin proved to be a winning one as the accomplished Melbourne-based jockey partnered Hadouken to an emotional triumph in Monday’s $200,000 Darwin Cup (2000m).

Teaming up with his longtime friend and former jockey-turned-trainer Peter Robl, Shinn guided the seven-year-old gelding to back-to-back wins in the Northern Territory’s biggest race. Hadouken, who claimed the same event in 2024 with Tyler Schiller, dug deep late to hold off a strong challenge from Prince Jofra.

Shinn was originally meant to ride Hadouken in last year’s edition but couldn’t make the 54kg weight. Speaking after the win, he expressed just how much this year’s victory meant to him.

"This is one of the biggest wins of my career," Shinn said. "It’s a special race, and to win it with Pete makes it even more meaningful. There’s so much history between us. He’s doing a tremendous job as a trainer after everything he’s been through."

Hadouken, sent out a $3.50 second favourite, travelled just off the speed set by Wolfburn before taking control at the top of the straight. He was all heart late, fending off Prince Jofra ($21) by a neck, with Motorace ($3.40) closing hard into third.

Robl, who claimed major wins as a jockey before retiring due to injury, credited Shinn’s composure and timing in the win.

“What a performance from Hadouken and Blake. That final 100 metres showed the class of both horse and rider,” Robl said.

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