They reached the pinnacle of two-year-old racing together when winning the Golden Slipper last autumn and for the first time since April, Blake Shinn takes the reins of Lady Of Camelot in The Sunlight – Queensland’s new slot race – at Gold Coast on Saturday.
The Sunlight over 1100-metres and worth $3 million is the highlight event on a bolstered card featuring Magic Millions-geared races as a prelude to the rich main day on January 11.
The $2.80 favourite for The Sunlight, Lady Of Camelot has not been missed by punters and on what the filly has shown in the lead-up, rightly so in Shinn’s opinion after winning a barrier trial at Hawkesbury over 800m on December 16.
“I haven’t been aboard since I rode her in the autumn but she had that great trial leading into this week and that all points in the right direction,” Shinn said.
“It was such a great in the Coolmore when she ran third to Miss Switzerland and she’s the class horse in the race.”
With barrier one being a further positive, Lady Of Camelot is yet to notch a Racing And Sports rating below 100 – her peak being 119 when finishing seventh in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) behind I Am Me – which is a mark none of her rivals have reached anywhere nearly as consistently.
“It’s great to be back aboard a superstar like her,” he added.
Shinn opened his winning account one win at Flemington on New Year’s Day and heads to Queensland with a lucrative set of rides at the Gold Coast twilight meeting.
Among them who sharpened up for the $1 million The Syndicate (1100m) by winning a 1000m barrier trial at Doomben on December 23 after winning the Listed Bribie Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on December 7.
Shinn finished second aboard the Tony Gollan-trained galloper in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley in August.
“He’s a consistent sprinter who puts himself right on the speed and he’s a horse I’m excited to be riding.”Moravia is another who looks very well placed and he’s another talented horse.”