Jockey thinks Queensland is a Shaw bet

By Jordan Gerrans

Inspired by close mate Martin Harley’s winning deeds in Australia, Englishman Harrison Shaw is also aiming to make his mark Down Under. 

The 29-year-old has only been in the Sunshine State for a short period of time, but he already has his foot in the door at the leading Chris and Corey Munce barn at Eagle Farm. 

Shaw – who regularly rode in Group races in the United Kingdom – took his maiden two engagements in Queensland last week and has a number of winning opportunities over the coming days. 

He is living with Harley in Brisbane until his daughter and fiancé arrive in Australia early in 2026. 

As Irishman Harley has been prolific in his Queensland stint, scoring at the Magic Millions and in multiple Group events, Shaw is hopeful of following his ways. 

The duo rode against each other in England in the old days and Shaw was quick to praise his mate for giving him a hand towards establishing himself in Australia. 

“It is a big thing to go somewhere new and Martin is a top fella,” Shaw said.

“He has been good to me. Our paths would cross when we travelled around the country in England, he was based in the south more and I was up north.

“Marty was quite inspiring, coming over to Australia and being as successful as he has been.

“It makes you want to give it a go when you see what he has done.”

The English hoop has been riding for almost a decade and has nearly 200 winners to his name. 

He has competed in several Group 2, Group 3 and Listed events. 

Riding in Australia has long been a dream for Shaw and after a couple of attempted bids earlier in his career, he is glad he has finally jumped headfirst into the new venture. 

“It is something that I have always wanted to do, come over,” he said.

“I got offered a job over here when I was an apprentice in England from the Freedmans in Sydney but I didn’t end up coming.

“I always wanted to come really and considered coming last year before my fiancé and I had a baby.

“Winter racing in England is quite hard and dull at the minute, there is not many opportunities.

“Obviously over here there are plenty of opportunities, racing and the prizemoney is better.

“The quality of life over here is probably better here, as well.”

Shaw had rides at Kilcoy and Toowoomba last week as he got his feet wet in Queensland. 

He placed on both occasions.

Shaw said it has been a learning curve in Australia with rider's keen to be fast out of the barriers and find their position early, which is not commonplace in English racing. 

After riding trackwork for the Munces in recent weeks, the father-and-son training team have rewarded the newcomer to Brisbane with a string of opportunities this week. 

Shaw has two Munce-prepared rides at the Sunshine Coast on Friday before taking two more for the camp at the Gold Coast the following day. 

“They have looked after me real well and put me on some trials straight away to get my licence,” he said of the Munces support since he lobbed in Brisbane. 

“They have been very welcoming and they are going in a great direction as a stable, they are always improving.

“They have had a lot of success the last couple of years. That has been with Marty, as well. They have been very good to be fair.

“They have got a lot of horses that hopefully I can get a chance on.”

He also has bookings for Darryl Hansen and Lindsay Hatch at Aquis Park on Saturday, as well. 

“It would be great to get a winner at one of those bigger tracks early on,” Shaw said.

“It would speak volumes so fingers crossed.”

With his fiancé and daughter to arrive in Australia early next year, Shaw said he was keen to ride in Queensland until early April and is open to extending his stay longer if he can build momentum.