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By Julieanne Horsman 

Quiet achiever Shaun Guymer celebrated his most successful season yet in 2017/18, riding almost four times the number of winners as the previous season. But it wasn’t just his rivals he had to overcome to get back on top.

Like many teenagers, school simply wasn’t for Shaun Guymer. He couldn’t wait to leave his Goulburn classroom behind and a stablehand job with Danny Williams provided his ticket out as soon as he was old enough.

“I worked as a stablehand for about a year then Danny threw me on the pony, Crackles,” Guymer remembered with a laugh. “Before I knew it I was riding in barrier trials. A lot of hard work followed. I’d be riding and Danny would be driving in the car beside me yelling out tips and advice. He’s the best horseman I have ever worked with.”

Back then Williams’ stable was a shadow of the country powerhouse it is today, so after nine months Guymer packed his bags and headed down the Hume to the bright lights of Canberra in search of opportunities. There, under the guidance of Mark Schmetzer, he excelled and took out the Canberra Apprentice Jockey Premiership in 2011 at age 19.

Shaun Guymer after a recent win at Goulburn. Credit: Bradley Photos.

“We formed a solid partnership then and we still have that relationship now,” Guymer said. “It means a lot to ride winners for him.”

Guymer stayed in Canberra for a couple of years then moved through other stables on three-month-loans to gain more experience. He spent time with Stephen Farley at Wyong and Kevin Moses at Randwick before jagging a spot with Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody.

“That was a phenomenal time for me,” Guymer said. “There were 200+ elite horses in the stable. I was riding work every day alongside champions like Luke Nolen and Linda Meech. Top jockeys were always coming in and out and I loved watching them and talking to them.”

Guymer came out of his time in early 2015 and headed to the Barossa Valley in South Australia where he linked up with Tony McEvoy. He was feeling the pressure but trying desperately hide it.

Fast forward to the middle of the 2015/16 racing season and Guymer was having serious doubts about his career as a jockey. The once champion apprentice who was touted as the next big thing in racing was struggling to get quality rides as a senior without a claim.

“It’s tough when you’re just a kid and you’re up against great jockeys with decades of experience,” Guymer reflected. “Whether you have one ride or eight, winning chances or complete outsiders, you still have to waste and travel.”

As Guymer’s hopes and dreams seemingly began slipping through his fingers, he wrapped them around a bottle. He began abusing alcohol and often drank himself to sleep. Those who loved him watched on powerlessly as he spiralled out of control and it wasn’t until he hit rock bottom that he reached out to his girlfriend and two of his closest friends who encouraged him to seek professional help. He made a commitment to them and himself that he wasn’t going to let his second chance go to waste.

Guymer stayed true to his word. When he was offered the chance to be Rosehill trainer Richard Freedman’s main track rider he jumped at it.

Guymer piloted High Mode to victory in NSW's longest race in the first fortnight of the new season. Credit: Kylie Shaw - Trackpix.

“As a senior I don’t have to ride work every day but I choose to,” he said. “It keeps my head in the game. Looking back at the hard work I’ve put in over the past 12 months and the results that have come from it makes it all the more satisfying.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. I think to be a successful jockey you need to be aligned with a big stable or someone who can back you. When people see you’re riding for a good stable you automatically get noticed, especially if you’re winning.

“I feel lucky Richard put me one some good horses early on which got the ball rolling. Latin Boy was a special horse for me as I rode him in work and notched five wins on him in the past year. He had a breathing problem but always tried his heart out.”

The last 12 months have been good for Guymer on a personal level as well. He married his long-term girlfriend, Champion Thoroughbreds Racing Manager Emma Walsh, and together they bought a home at Glenmore Park in Sydney’s West.

“Emma is my rock,” Guymer said. “She knows full well the preparation that goes into every race meeting and supports me every step of the way. That understanding makes a huge difference. I spend time with Emma whenever I can and I’ve recently taken up golf. It’s important to have a passion away from the racetrack. I also take things a bit less seriously. I still want to win and give 110% every time but I know there’s more to life than racing. I’ve found my balance.”

Guymer is poised to eclipse his 2017/18 performance in the new season with 22 places and 9 wins to his name already including NSW’s longest race – the 3800m Riverina Cup. He piloted High Mode to victory for Anthony Freedman and admits he was glad to see the winning post come up.

“It was a bloody long race,” he joked. “I’d never ridden further than 2900m which I did the day before at Newcastle so I certainly felt it.

“For now I am focused on riding frequently and consistently. The more I ride the better I will get. As long as I keep improving, even if it’s only gradually, I will be happy.”

This story originally appeared in the September edition of Racing NSW Magazine.