Saintly Dancer's Thousand Guineas triumph highlights Shinn's comeback

Jockey Blake Shinn has celebrated his first Group 1 win since recovering from a significant leg injury, as Saintly Dancer dictated terms from the front to capture the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

Shinn endured a fractured leg from a fall during last year's Melbourne Cup and made his return to competitive riding at the start of the current racing season.

Following a close second aboard Changing Colours, owned by his partner Lucy Yeoman, in the Toorak Handicap the previous week, Shinn executed a masterclass on Saintly Dancer to clinch the 1600m Group 1 fillies' classic on Saturday.

Saintly Dancer, prepared by Ciaron Maher, broke cleanly from barrier four and maintained her advantage to defeat stablemate Icelady by 1-¼ lengths. The $3.70 favourite, Regal Ambition, finished a length behind in third.

"This is my first Group 1 since I've been back," Shinn commented.

"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 and I just want to thank everyone who's supported me and my circle and outside too for that matter.

"The racing industry has been wonderful so it's nice to come back on a big day and show what we're made of."

The progression of Saintly Dancer through the grades has been swift. She was narrowly beaten on debut at Geelong in the final outing of her juvenile year, subsequently winning at Sandown.

Saintly Dancer finished runner-up to Icelady in the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) last month, before emphatically announcing her credentials with an impressive six-length victory at Flemington two weeks ago.

The filly was acquired for $100,000 at the Gold Coast yearling sale and has now become a Group 1 winner.

"It's a dream," said Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing.

"It's what it's all about and gives everyone every chance to get into a racehorse.

"The journey that she has taken us on, and First Light, has been amazing so far.

"She's been lightly raced, she will get further and strengthen up further and will get better. She's a little more street wise as we've raced her and trained her.

"It's the beauty of training and managing young horses, you don't know their ceiling.

"You take them away and you don't know what level they will get to but it's really great and it's great with our system that we can nurture them through.

"We had four in the race and we quinella it. That's what it's simply all about."

Turnbull lauded Shinn's performance, highlighting his established connection with the Maher stable. "He's got a very good clock and is a big-time player," Turnbull stated.

"He has a good affiliation with our stable since his return to race riding and with Tim and First Light.

"He nailed it on the day and it was well deserved."

Betting markets are expected to be competitive for the next major race at online bookmakers.