Blake Shinn doesn't get many opportunities for leading trainer Chris Waller and he had to work hard for his winning percentage on Black Jag at Canterbury to avoid a riderless horse.

Druid appeared to shy at something shortly after the start of Saturday's Hyland Race Colours (1550m) and dropped apprentice Yusuke Ichikawa who got to his feet unhurt.

Shinn took Black Jag ($5.50) to the front and Druid joined him down the back straight.

In the run home, Druid took the lead and drifted off his line with Shinn opting to stay to his inside.

Fortunefivehundered was forced a little wide and could only get to within three-quarters of a length of Black Jag.

"I'm lucky the riderless horse switched my horse on," Shinn said.

"He could easily have lost the race but I was able to control it.

"I got a soft lead and in the straight I thought he (Druid) might go up on the inside but he didn't so I stayed there."

Shinn, who is the preferred stable rider for Guy Walter, won Thursday's Summer Cup on the Waller-trained I'm Imposing and said he was pleased to ride for the premier trainer whenever he could.

"Chris uses a wide range of jockeys and I'm just happy to get on when I can," he said.

Waller said he was impressed with the way Shinn approached the race.

"Blake is the form guru," Waller said.

"He was the one who pointed out it was only Black Jag's third second-up run even though we've had him for years.

"It shows how tough the horse is to have been in work so long.

"And what makes good jockeys is the ability to make decisions and Blake did just that."

Druid's trainer Robert Price was quizzed about the horse's manners and he said he had never done anything like that in 50 starts although he admitted he could be a little difficult in trackwork.

Stewards elected not to penalise Druid by sending him back to the trials.