Blake Shinn will take up a short-term contract to ride for leading trainer Wesley Ward in the United States during the Australian winter.

Shinn will spend five weeks riding for Ward who is based at Arlington Park in Chicago.

The Sydney jockey will leave on Sunday and says he excited about the opportunity.

“With big-race runners not only in Chicago but all over America, Ward will afford me with many race riding opportunities and a chance to experience the culture of American racing,” Shinn said.

A Sydney premiership winner in 2007/08, Shinn’s biggest wins are the 2008 Melbourne Cup on Viewed for trainer Bart Cummings and the 2016 Golden Slipper on Capitalist.