The 2026 Thousand Guineas results delivered another major spring carnival triumph for the powerhouse Ciaron Maher stable, with the progressive Saintly Dancer proving far too strong in Saturday’s Group 1 fillies’ classic at Caulfield.

The daughter of St Mark’s Basilica continued her outstanding preparation, backing up her Edward Manifold Stakes success with a dominant 1¼-length victory over stablemate Icelady, giving the Maher camp a coveted Group 1 quinella, while race favourite Regal Ambition battled on for third.

SAINTLY DANCER ALL THE WAY ??

Blake Shinn goes back-to-back in the Thousand Guineas as Ciaron Maher's filly leads throughout!@blake_shinn @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/hta9GZnPhC

— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) October 17, 2026

Sent out at $4.60, Saintly Dancer enjoyed a dream run under Blake Shinn, controlling the race from the front before putting her rivals away in the straight to become a millionaire and secure her maiden elite-level victory.

Representing the growing success of ownership group First Light Racing, the lightly raced filly has now won three of her six starts and continued to exceed expectations after being purchased for just $100,000.

Speaking after the victory, Maher Racing representative Jack Turnbull praised both the filly and the team’s patient handling of her throughout the campaign.

“She was. She just got there, she travelled, controlled, she has a decent kick in the locker when she’s put under pressure for a smaller-sized filly,” Turnbull told Racing Victoria.

“The Ballarat team have done a wonderful job. They’ve just got her in the right spot, nursed her through the last month.

“To the filly’s credit and to the team’s credit, it’s been amazing for her to win that race today.”

Turnbull admitted pre-race confidence may have actually been with runner-up Icelady, making the result even more satisfying.

“I did, and you love to be wrong, especially in these circumstances,” he said.

“She was game for Thompson Creek, and to quinella a Group One of any calibre is very special for the whole team, for Ciaron and our set-up.”

The stable has long believed Saintly Dancer possessed significant upside, although there were lingering questions about just how far she would ultimately stay.

“She’s a serious filly and there is the question mark whether or not she goes further,” Turnbull said.

“Looking at her physically, we’ve said it all along, you’re probably a fraction apprehensive, but she just keeps proving us wrong.

“She’s now a Group One winner, and it’s what it’s all about.”

The Thousand Guineas triumph also marked another success story for First Light Racing after securing the filly for a modest price as a youngster.

“It’s a dream. It’s what it’s all about and gives everyone every chance to get into a racehorse,” Turnbull said.

“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.”

Turnbull also noted how much the filly has matured during her preparation, improving from a runner that once relied on charging home from the back to one capable of taking up a position and controlling a race.

“That comes with learning. She’s a little more street wise,” he said.

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

“We had four in the race and we quinellaed it. That’s what it’s simply all about.”

A major part of the victory belonged to jockey Shinn, who produced a faultless ride and celebrated his first Group 1 win since returning from injury.

Shinn had Saintly Dancer perfectly positioned from the barriers, able to hold the inside and dictate the race at her own tempo before kicking strongly around the home turn.

“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,” Shinn, who secured the race for the second year running after his 2025 success aboard Ole Dancer, said.

“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.”

The champion hoop felt the race was effectively won when the filly was able to secure the rail and control proceedings from the front.

“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,” Shinn said.

“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 up, all the stars aligned today so I’m absolutely thrilled.”

The win was also a deeply personal milestone for Shinn after an injury-enforced absence from the saddle.

“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,” he said.

“It’s all worth it and I just want to thank everyone who’s supported me.

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

Saturday’s victory further underlined the depth of the Maher stable’s three-year-old filly ranks and established Saintly Dancer as one of the standout fillies of the spring. With a Group 1 trophy now on her resume and further improvement still expected, the talented Kiwi-bred filly appears destined to remain a major player in Australia’s feature races through the remainder of the carnival and beyond.