Champion jockey Blake Shinn upbeat about his Group 1 rides at Randwick on day one of The Championships

Golden Slipper-winning jockey Blake Shinn may be on some roughies in the Group 1 quartet at Randwick this weekend but he has made a strong case about their chances.

Champion jockey Blake Shinn has made a compelling case for his four Group 1 rides as he attempts an unlikely big-race clean sweep at Royal Randwick Saturday.

Shinn’s major race mounts are at double-figure odds with the exception of Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot but he is convinced they will all be competitive on day one of The Championships.

Godolphin miler Pericles is at $34 for the $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) but Shinn believes the four-year-old is “definitely flying under the radar”.

“This is a wonderful edition of the Doncaster but Pericles can run well,” Shinn said.

“His form ties in with the Japanese horse, Obamburumai, and he wasn’t too far off Militarize last start, and they are both leading chances.

🏎️ Veight went vroom and wins the G1 George Ryder Stakes for @mcevoymitchell and @LaneDamian!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/opjOjrHvkO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024

“Pericles just got too far back in the George Ryder Stakes but he ran home well.

“He handles soft ground and I feel he has been disregarded a bit going into this race.”

Shinn is back on Private Eye in the $3m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) after partnering the Joe Pride-trained sprinter to a close second in the Lightning Stakes to Imperatriz earlier this autumn.

There was only a narrow margin separating the two sprinters when they last clashed but they are very wide apart in TJ Smith betting with Imperatriz favourite at $3.30 and Private Eye out to $23.

Private Eye has been unplaced in successive Sydney starts since his Lightning run and has drawn wide in barrier 14 but Shinn was concentrating on the positives.

“I think Private Eye’s a very good horse and I’m really looking forward to getting back on him,” Shinn said.

“I’m comfortable with the draw, he has a great Randwick record, and I want to disregard his last two runs where he had excuses.

“If you take him on trust and go on his Lightning Stakes run, then he is very capable of bouncing back and running a big race.”

The likelihood of a wet track is not ideal for Private Eye but it won’t bother stablemate

Ceolwulf, Shinn’s mount in the $2m ATC Australian Derby (2400m).

Shinn was impressed by Ceolwulf when he rode the colt last start for a close second behind Riff Rocket in the Rosehill Guineas.

RIFF ROCKET wins the @SkyRacingAU Rosehill Guineas!

Group 1 number 159 for @cwallerracing, drawing him level with @GaiWaterhouse1, as the gelding pounces to win the 2000m three-year-old feature over Ceowulf with Cap Ferrat in third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/9jqFxBjj8K

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 23, 2024

Riff Rocket, the Victoria Derby winner earlier this season, is the $3.10 favourite for the Randwick classic with Ceolwulf at $10.

“Ceolwulf was arguably the strongest on the line in the Rosehill Guineas,” Shinn said.

“He’s by Tavistock and I think he will enjoy a soft track. He’s a quality horse in the making.

“There are four or five leading contenders in the Derby and he is one of them.”

Shinn is particularly keen to be reunited with Lady Of Camelot after they combined for an outstanding Golden Slipper win two weeks ago.

Lady Of Camelot, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, is the $4 second favourite for the $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) behind stablemate Storm Boy at $2.50.

Only four fillies have won the Golden Slipper-Sires double, Fireburn (2022), Merlene (1996), Burst (1992) and Toy Show (1975).

Burst was the only filly to train on and complete the coveted juvenile triple crown by also winning the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).

Lady Of Camelot is on the triple crown trail with Shinn optimistic the filly will run a strong 1400m in the Sires.

“There is no reason to suggest she won’t run the trip,” Shinn said.

“It was a great win in the Golden Slipper and the best part of her race was the last 100m.

“If she can settle like she did in the Slipper and replicate that performance, it gives me great confidence she is going to be a strong winning chance.”

Originally published as Champion jockey Blake Shinn upbeat about his Group 1 rides at Randwick on day one of The Championships