Saintly Dancer and Blake Shinn led a Ciaron Maher quinella in the Group 1 Stow Storage Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield, holding the fence and kicking clear to beat stablemate Icelady by a length and a quarter, with favourite Regal Ambition third. Here’s what the jockeys said.
It is always important to hear what the jockeys say after the race, as you can forgive a horse’s bad run or even find a winner next start, so head to the post-race comments below.
PLATINUM PEARL (Thomas Stockdale) – 12th
Had a nice enough run on the back of Regal Ambition, she gave me a good cart into the race, but I just didn’t have the horse there to present, and I wasn’t too happy with her action late.
OVER THE BRIDGE (Mark Zahra) – 11th
It was just a bit of an ask from the outside gate at the mile. I went forward trying to get in with the way the track’s racing, couldn’t get in, travelled to the bend but the work we had to do she struggled in the run home.
GRINZINGER HEART (Lachlan King) – 10th
I thought she was really good. Blinkers first time she was just that touch slow, but it was a good run for further. All being well and if she pulls up well she’ll press on.
PRETTY BABY (Damian Lane) – 9th
Disappointing today unfortunately. She didn’t have the kindest run around, that being said when she did get into the clear she felt like she was going to finish off and inside the 200 she just failed to find the line. So, either didn’t enjoy the trip around or end of prep run.
Read more: Kingswood Wins Caulfield Cup 2026 for Gavin Bedggood and John Allen
RUBI’S CHOICE (Lachlan Neindorf) – 8th
She’s run well. As her breeding suggests and her family tree, she probably would struggle to see out a mile and that did happen to be the case today. I did try to be as conservative as I could early, just to keep something in the tank for the last 400 metres and she rolled the legs over nicely once in clear galloping room but 14 probably sees her out.
SING YOUR SONG (Jye McNeil) – 7th
Had a lovely spot on a strong speed, became awkwardly placed when the stablemate in front of me didn’t handle left-handed going and got dragged back at a key stage and just wasn’t able to finish.
SALANN (Rachel King) – 6th
Really good run. Better gate we probably could have lobbed a bit closer and she probably runs a place, but a super run.
LARA ANTIPOVA (Craig Williams) – 5th
We got a beautiful run from a tricky barrier draw behind the eventual winner into the box seat. She railed really well, she went to challenge, but I just find at this level of opposition she just doesn’t run out a strong 1600 metres.
Read more: Caulfield Tips – Saturday 17/10
DE ARMAS (William Pike) – 4th
She did everything wrong tractability wise, she was hanging quite a bit a long way from home, made it hard to to work into the race, then she had enough cheek to offer a kick as well. Overall it was a good run, just need to work on her tractability.
REGAL AMBITION (Michael Dee) – 3rd
Great effort. I was happy with the run that we got from a wide gate, it’s just a shame that the track’s playing to the inside.
ICELADY (Ethan Brown) – 2nd
Gallant in defeat. If they push on with her they can definitely step her up in trip.
SAINTLY DANCER (Blake Shinn) – 1st
It takes a really tough horse and that’s what the Maher stable is all about, they turn up on these big days, they’re fit, and she’s put the writing on the wall all prep, just got to thank the First Light team, I’ve had a lot of luck in these colours, they gave me this opportunity and to repay them with a Group One on a big day is very rewarding.
She did, she got into a great position, got a little bit of pressure but 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, she told me how fast she wanted to go and around the turn I was supremely confident, she kept that gallop us, all the stars aligned today so I’m absolutely thrilled.
First Group 1 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 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.
View Our Caulfield Tips For Saturday Here
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