Champion jockey Blake Shinn was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after a heavy fall after the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. Shinn, 38, is the reigning champion in Victoria which hosts the ‘race that stops a nation’ at Flemington, won the Melbourne Cup in 2008 and has a career tally of more than 2,000 domestic wins.

He rode the ex-Willie Mullins-trained Vauban in the latest version of the £5 million race, won by Jamie Melham on Half Yours, finishing sixth on the former hurdler who is now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Shinn said after the race: “He ran super. Big turnaround from the Caulfield Cup. Hit the line well but the winner and the other horse had a bit better turn-of-foot. Very proud of the horse.”

Two races after the Melbourne Cup, race 9, Shinn was aboard She’s Got Pizzazz when the pair found themselves short of room with a furlong to run.

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He was dislodged, fell to the ground and may have been trampled by following horses as he lay on the track.

The final race was delayed while medics rushed to the jockey’s side. He was seen sitting up and conscious as he received treatment. He was taken to an ambulance and transported to hospital by ambulance.

The Victorian Jockeys Association released an update shortly after the incident. “After a fall at Flemington, Blake Shinn is to be transported to hospital with a suspected broken left leg,” said the VJA.

She’s Got Pizzazz appeared to be unhurt and continued running to the line, although a vet report revealed the horse was “lame off fore”.

Shinn later posted from his hospital bed and said: "Thank you all for your kind messages after my fall. I’ve broken my leg and will be sidelined for a bit, but I’m very grateful that She’s Got Pizzazz is okay."

The race was won by Kerrin McEvoy whose thoughts were immediately with Shinn.

“Firstly, I just hope Blake Shinn is OK,” McEvoy told Nine. “You don’t like to see a riderless horse after a race.”