The Ciaron Maher-trained Recommendation ($1.40) justified the short quote with online bookmakers in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, leading all the way to score an impressive two-length victory in the $200,000 feature.
The four-year-old son of Shalaa put the writing on the wall first-up, demolishing his rivals by seven lengths in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on July 13, going on with the job to claim back-to-back victories to kick off the campaign.
Blake Shinn took all luck out of the equation from barrier two, electing to lead up the small field of six from the outset, bounding forward to hold out Semillion ($6.50) for the early lead.
He was able to hold them up at a steady clip in the middle stages, leaving Mrs Chrissie ($8.50) and Marble Nine ($11.00) to stalk from behind the leading pair, giving the top four turning for home every chance to take over in the final 400m.
Recommendation was simply a class above, however, with Shinn pulling the whip to draw clear for a dominant victory, recording the gelding’s eighth win at start 18.
2024 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes Replay – Recommendation
Stable representative Jack Turnbull was on course to dissect the victory and suggested the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) and Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) could be viable options throughout the spring.
“I was just having a chat to Ciaron (Maher) there,” said Turnbull.
“Possibly a Bobbie Lewis given he’s won like that over six (furlongs) maybe we plan ahead towards a race like the Manikato if he was to run another figure like he did last start.
“If we want to do that we can give him a breather. It’s not a long time off, he won’t go out for long, and keep that residual fitness.”
Blake Shinn was impressed with his mount as he gave his post-race assessment, suggesting the 1200m was a query prior to Saturday’s win.
“He’s a real genuine horse this fella,” said Shinn.
“I had some reservations coming into today at a strong 1200m with pressure applied, but he ticked that box today. We were able to get a nice easy time in front and I was able to rate him around the bend, not push the button too early and therefore he ran the race out well.
“He was getting a little tired the last 50m, but I think the run we had in transit helped him run the 1200m out today and get the job done.
“I just think he had a class above them. I think if it was stronger opposition we might’ve got found out today. I think his last three or four runs at 1200m he’d been beaten, so I was very mindful of that coming into today.
“We beat the opposition, he’s shown that he can run 1200m in the right circumstances, but he’s four years old and rising five. He’s come into his own now and there’s some good races in him.”
Recommendation is now a $21.00 chance with online betting sites for the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on September 27.
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