Instead of chasing engagements around the north of the state, Shane has just opted to just ride on Saturdays these days, making sure he can fulfil all his work commitments away from the track.
Having started out as a 15-year-old rookie jockey many decades ago, Shane still has the drive and fire in his belly.
“I have always had that competitive edge and you really miss that side of it when you are not riding,” Shane said.
“I have always had a passion for racing and the industry.”
Having been around racing for their entire lives, Shane has two daughters who are racing obsessed, while their youngest sister Alicia has little interest in the gallopers.
“Jade has a true passion and desire to be in racing, she is always looking at the form and knows more about racing than I do,” Shane said with a laugh.
“She has a true passion and would like to get into her racing more seriously.
“She is only in the early stages because she has not ridden horses much until now, they have a pony now at Earlville, which is not far from the track here.
“She has a desire to do it and I have told her to poke along steady and hopefully things falls into line.”
If Jade had it her own way, she would have finished up at school already and launched into her riding career, but Shane was committed to seeing his daughter finalise her studies before starting her riding career.
The experienced hoop says his daughter has a lot of work ahead of her and she’s doing the best she can so far.
With Shane making his return from a fracture in his neck earlier in 2021, Jade has taken great pleasure in being able to strap for her father in races.
“Now that I have started working for Fred, Dad is more open to the idea of me riding where he was not so much previously,” Jade said.
“I think he is secretly excited about it, while always being a bit worried about me.
“It is great to be down here at the stables around him, he is always pulling me up and telling me how I should be doing things, he is always teaching me stuff.
“I have been lucky to strap for him on race day, as well, it has been exciting.”
As far as role models goes, Jade thinks her dad is as good as you can get – he is as disciplined as it gets with his weight, is respected within the industry and is just a genuine person.
The pair have dared to dream of riding in a race together in the not too distant future.
“It would be certainly something great to have her alongside me, as well,” Shane said.
“I know from other riders that have had their daughters or sons out there with them, it is always a frightening experience because you are always looking out for them and their safety in a race.”
Shane is in red-hot form leading into this week's two-day Cairns Amateurs carnival, riding a treble on Saturday afternoon across the Mareeba Cup card.
He has four bookings for Friday's opening day of the carnival.