Blake Shinn lands comeback Group 1 on Saintly Dancer in Thousand Guineas
Eleven months after a compound leg fracture on Melbourne Cup Day, Blake Shinn led throughout on Saintly Dancer as Ciaron Maher’s stable ran first and second in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Blake Shinn has ridden his first Group 1 winner since returning from a badly broken leg, leading all the way on Saintly Dancer to win the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on Saturday and complete a quinella for Ciaron Maher.
The New Zealand-bred filly started at $4.60 and beat stablemate Icelady ($11) by 1-1/4 lengths. Favourite Regal Ambition ($3.70) finished a length further back in third.
Shinn has now won the race two years running, having taken last year’s edition on Ole Dancer for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
He fractured the tibia and fibula in his left leg in a fall on Melbourne Cup Day last November, and surgeons used a metal rod and screws to stabilise the break. He returned at Flemington on August 1, winning on his first ride back, Nearco Frod, and adding a second win on Touchdown.
“First Group One since I’ve been back, it certainly hasn’t been an easy road but you just keep turning up and put the work in and you get repaid with a big winner here today, it’s all worth it,” Shinn said.
“I think the draw ultimately won us the race because I was able to hold the fence, got a nice little breather down the side but I didn’t back off too much.”
Saintly Dancer, by St Mark’s Basilica out of the So You Think mare Thinkyoucandance, was offered by Wentwood Grange at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
First Light Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought her for $100,000.
She came into the Guineas off a six-length win in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes and a second in the Thousand Guineas Prelude. She is the 16th filly to complete the Manifold–Guineas double, and the first since Amphitrite in 2018.
With Saturday’s win, her record stands at three wins and two seconds from six starts, and her earnings at $1,179,060.
Maher’s national assistant trainer, Jack Turnbull, said the stable had wondered how far the filly would progress given her size.
“She’s been lightly-raced, she will get further and strengthen up further and will get better,” he said.
The result gives Maher his second Thousand Guineas, after Another Prophet in 2024.
Ethan Brown, who rode Icelady, said: “If they push on with her they can definitely step her up in trip.”
Michael Dee was happy with Regal Ambition’s run from a wide gate. “It’s just a shame that the track’s playing to the inside,” he said.
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