Birthday boy Blake Shinn had the cake and ate it too, with a brilliant ride on outsider Charm Stone to win the Group 1 $2m Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.

Shinn stalked the speed on $34 chance Charm Stone, trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, after a sharp getaway and then surged clear inside the last 75m to defeat Baraqiel and Magic Time.

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Baraqiel, the fan favourite albeit second pick in the market, loomed large around the bend but could not quite quicken as sharply as recent starts to fend off Charm Stone.

“Pretty special day to be able to celebrate a Group 1 … wow, time-honoured race the Manikato,” Shinn said.

“It’s wonderful to be able to win it … she was dominant. She pinged the lids, got a great trail, and got out at the turn. She put the race to bed, it was a phenomenal win.

“When she landed there (behind lead) after 100m the race just set up, Baraqiel outside leader Alabama Lass leading and then she travelled lovely.”

Charm Stone also won the Group 1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide first-up last campaign.

Favourite Lady Shenandoah finished fourth after an interrupted run, posted wide early and buffeted.

The Everest-bound mare rounded the home turn awkwardly but quickened nicely once balanced up.

Jockey James McDonald lamented the run.

“She’s gone well, she just had a bit of an uninterrupted run throughout,” McDonald said.

“It wasn’t smooth, she finished off well.”

Champion jockey Craig Williams looked after early leader Alabama Lass late after she dropped out of contention quickly around the bend.

“I’m quite concerned about her health, the way she felt in the run, the way she pulled up,” Williams said.

“So we’ll see how she recovers from the run.”

Alabama Lass was found to be displaying a poor recovery rate post-race.

Everest-bound Group 1 winner Skybird pulled up lame in her left foreleg after an uncharacteristic run under jockey John Allen.

“Disappointing,” Allen said.

“A little bit sluggish into gear, but once the race went on from the 600, she was struggling and never travelled that well, which is unlike her.”

Originally published as Blake Shinn caps birthday celebrations with Group 1 Manikato Stakes boilover on Charm Stone at The Valley