Australia's shambolic performance on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test is serving as inspiration to Blake Shinn to perform well in the Shergar Cup.

Shinn and countryman Kerrin McEvoy were confronted with the disastrous performance as they helped launch this year's Shergar Cup - Ascot's international jockeys challenge - at a pub in west London.

Shinn, who will ride on the Rest of the World team along with McEvoy and Canada's Emma-Jayne Wilson, tweeted: "(I'm) determined that at least some Aussies are going to win this weekend."

Both riders appeared to be unperturbed by their compatriots' collapse at Trent Bridge, although that position was perhaps influenced by their audience of English journalists.

"This is the most I've seen of the series but obviously I take an interest in it. The wicket must be doing a bit," McEvoy told the Racing Post.

Sadly it was Stuart Broad doing a bit, not the wicket as the Aussie batsmen airily waved their bats and edged almost everything.

Joe Root's unbeaten century was only making things worse and showing there were no gremlins in the pitch.

McEvoy's cricketing comments aside the Shergar Cup is another step in the right direction for the resurgent Shinn, who in 2010 was suspended for a year for gambling offences.

"It's great to be recognised and to get an invitation - I have to pinch myself," Shinn said.

"I feel privileged and very honoured. In a way it's like a mini-Olympics - you can feel the build-up already.

"It's my first time riding at Ascot, one of the world's unique courses, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge."