SHANE WALKINSHAW TALENTED NO. 2 DRIVER

Shane Walkinshaw, in his first season as an open driver, adds to the driving skills of stable runners.

Outside the stable, he is the regular driver of open class pacing mare Special Ops and formerly smart 3YO pacer Live Dangerously, before being sold to Perth interests.

Shane guided Special Ops to a courageous 4th in the 2008 $1.2 million Christchurch Casino NZ Cup behind Changeover, Baileys Dream and Report For Duty.

He also won the 2008 Listed $20,000 Blue Jean Cuisine Winter Cup behind the Ross Rennie-trained mare, and also drove her to beat Bobs Blue Boy in the 2008 G3 $48,448 "Rangiora Classic".

Shane was a highly successful junior reining Whatsundermykilt to beat One Over Kenny in the 2006 G1 $150,000 Dominion Trotting Handicap at Addington.

He won five races behind the top squaregaiter including other features the 2007 G3 $30,000 Giannis Pita Break Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington, the 2006 G3 $30,000 Ashburton Trust Trotters Mile (1:57.6) and the $35,000 Listed Lobster Inn Trot at Kaikoura.

He also partnered Whatsundermykilt some of Australia's major trot races.

They won a 2007 Adelaide Interdominon Heat and then ran third to Uncle Petrika and A Touch Of Flair in the $A200,000 Grand Final.

Shane also drove Whatsundermykilt when second to A Touch Of Flair in the 2006 $A100,000 Australian Trotting Grand Prix.

They were second again in the 2007 $A100,000 Australian Trotting Grand Prix, this time a head behind Sundons Gift, and third in the $A50,000 Bill Collins Trotters Mile behind Galleons Sunset and Acacia Ridge.

He also reined fellow top trotter Glenbogle for two wins when attached to the Kevin Fairbairn.

Shane reined 121 winners as a junior in NZ.

THE SHANE FILE . . .

AGE: 23.
FAMILY: Parents Paul and Sue.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS: Bruce Negus, Kevin Fairbairn.
FIRST DRIVING WIN: Dark Shadow, Timaru, November 21, 2004.
FIRST TRAINING WIN: Belle Vista, Timaru, May 16, 2010.
CAREER DRIVING WINS: 121 (in NZ only as at end of 2008-9 season, his last as a junior. Has several Australian wins).
BIGGEST THRILL: Winning the Group One 2006 $150,000 Dominion Trotting Handicap at Addington with Whatsundermykilt.
BIGGEST WIN: Whatsundermykilt winning the 2006 $150,000 Dominion Handicap at Addington.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Suffering a ruptured spleen in a race crash this year.
BEST HORSE SEEN: Blacks A Fake.
BEST HORSE DRIVEN: Whatsundermykilt.
FAVOURITE TRACK: Addington. "I enjoy going there and the set-up with the new barn is very good."
MOST HILARIOUS THING SEEN ON A TRACK: "Me flying through the air and ending up with a ruptured spleen."
FAVOURITE FOOD: KFC.
SPORTING INTEREST: Indoor cricket.
FAVOURITE MUSIC ARTIST: Akon.
FAVOURITE TV SHOW: American Chopper..
THREE PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: American Chopper makers Paul Teutul sen and Paul jun, Jessica Alba.
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE CHANGED IN HARNESS RACING: "No, everythings ok with me."